Is that really freedom?

I’m constantly working with patients and families on ways to have healthier relationships with their screens and digitally disconnect**.

However, on a road trip is not the best time to disconnect. I mean, Google Maps is the only reason I make it anywhere. But earlier this week, I arrived in Kilkenny and and my phone battery was less than 15%. Just enough for Google to help me find the The National Reptile Zoo .

Now, I still have no explanation as to how a phone that was charged all night and connectedr in the car had no battery left when we arrived — but there we were. I took one obligatory photo of snakes — then turned off the phone.

Time lost all meaning. I don’t wear a watch since hospital infection control took them away from doctors sometime in 2008. It was a great morning of seeing alligators and petting lizards. After a morning of scales and slime, I had counted on a phone to guide me. With a paper tourist map- they still make those! – we bravely set with no phone to find the nearest child-friendly restaurant or GoogleMaps to show me I was walking the right direction. My hurling fan sons pulled me in into a pub called An Poc Fada based on the outside sign. Lunch sorted. We toured the castle – unable to use the QR codes supplied by the OPW in each room. But I suspect that the helpful information was irrelevant to the things my 6 y.o. wanted to talk about anyway. We found a playground. We found ice cream. Without a phone, we explored the city streets, appreciating the picturesque – without taking pictures. Time still had no meaning. I managed even to get the car back onto the M9 heading home following only posted road signs. My phone charging (slowly) on the front seat.

I don’t recommend, at all, disconnecting yourself while on road trips. I do not recommend not taking photos of days out with your children.

But this summer, I do recommend disconnecting. Do the digital detox.

Screens and Your Family Health 

There is lots of data – and more every day – showing the impact on our family health.  Here are some take-aways I try get share with my patients.

• Screen time limits include phone, TV, tablet use. Your child under 2 does not need a screen.  Your child age 2 -5 should have no more than one hour per day.  Your child 6 and over should have reasonable limits.  The reason is that screen overuse can impact certain aspects of child development. Excessive screen time takes away from time that  children need vigrous play -60 minutes per day minimum!  Remember that play is work for children!  The skills that are learned through real-world play like ball, blocks,  cars, dolls cannot be done on screen.

• For teens, the longer they spend on social media the worse their mental health and body image.

• For young children:  using screens to “calm down” does not help them learning the difficult tasks of self-regulation and learning to feel and control and express their emotions.

• No screens before bedtime – for any age.

• No screens in the bedroom.  For children/teens, all internet-connected devices should always be used in the common area of the home. Turn off devices or WiFi at night so alerts are not disrupting household sleep.

• If you have primary school children, consider asking your child’s school to bring in a “no phone before secondary school” contract that is becoming increasingly common.

• Parental control software and setttings on all devices that your child/teen uses.

• When your child or teen is online, remember this isn’t about trusting them  – it’s about trusting everyone else in the world who now has access to your child or teen through that app or forum.

• Consider alternatives to screens.  On car trips, consider setting up family-friendly audiobooks to listen to in the car. These can be downloaded for free through your library. If you are constantly looking up things on your phone in the house, consider a smart speaker that can help with weather, traffic, favourite radio stations, sports scores.