“The increase in the number of hours people spend working from home means that kids see their parents using devices more often, which is unavoidable. It also puts parents in a complex situation when it comes to disciplining screen time”, Mr Wallis said.
“Intentionally spending time as a family, with no devices in hand, or putting your phone out of sight around mealtimes, models positive behaviour and can help remove the double standard otherwise in play”.
“Try encouraging your kids to find activities, like crafts, sport or games that don’t require a screen. And remember, getting kids to adhere to rules can be a lot easier when they feel they’ve been part of the conversation. Work out an agreement together and find a healthy balance”.
Modelling positive behaviours
Parents of children at primary school were significantly (83%) more likely to limit screen time than parents of children of other ages.
Parents are always keen to set a healthy example for their children, but in a world dominated by technology, sometimes this is easier said than done. In fact, fewer than half of respondents (40%) believed they model good behaviour with their device use.
Parents acknowledge that devices are needed at school but want to encourage their kids to limit use at home. Parents of children at primary school were significantly (83%) more likely to limit screen time than parents of children of other ages.
Rob Hennin, nib New Zealand Chief Executive Officer, notes this has been a perennial theme in the survey.
“It’s no secret that during Covid lockdowns parents often felt they had few choices but to allow their kids extra screen time. But 47% of parents remain concerned about the negative impact of device use on their kids’ health and wellbeing”, Mr Hennin said.
“Technology is here to stay. And in many ways, it makes our lives better. For parents, it’s about striking the right balance, so it’s really inspiring to see that parents are being proactive”.
[1] Survey conducted between 9 September – 7 October 2022.
To find out more about nib, head to their website and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
