Digital wellbeing and mental health can be closely linked, so it’s important to check that your child’s use of technology and the internet is benefiting their mental health.
With Christmas and school holidays around the corner, there will be many young people using devices gifted to them, as well as many spending more time online generally.
Various situations may have an impact on your child’s mental wellbeing, both positively and negatively, and you can explore these in our help & advice section for 11–18-year-olds.
What is digital wellbeing?
A vital skill for your child to develop is to be conscious of how going online makes them feel and whether different activities have a positive or negative impact on their emotions.
Digital wellbeing is about recognising the way going online makes us feel and knowing how to manage this.
If your child is aged 11-18, there are a whole range questions to consider in our digital wellbeing hub as well as some top tips to for them to put into practice to keep their digital wellbeing in check.
Screen Time guidance
At Childnet, we often hear parents and carers asking about the ‘perfect’ amount of screen time for their children. However, there is no simple answer to this question.
Still, it is important to keep in mind that positive use of technology can support young people’s wellbeing if they strike a healthy balance between these and offline activities.
Recently, we published guidance about screen time for parents and carers to consider for their children using devices.
With the Christmas holidays coming up, you may find the article helpful in deciding the right amount of time for your family to spend on their devices, where they will use it, and what they will be using it for.
You could also download our family agreement, which provides a list of things to consider when creating a family agreement, and some examples to get you started. An agreement template is also provided to help families set clear expectations for positive and safe internet use.
You can also point your child to our page about screen time for 11-18 year olds.
Let’s talk about life online
With under two months to go until Safer Internet Day, it provides a fantastic opportunity for your family to make space for conversations about life online.
The upcoming chapter of Safer Internet Day will put young people’s voices at the heart of the day and encourage them to shape the online safety support that they receive.
Soon, the official resources for parents and carers will become live on the Safer Internet Day website, where you’ll be able to find out about specific issues and know where to find useful online safety resources.
In the meantime, having a conversation with your child this Christmastime will be a springboard for online safety awareness in your family, and will help you to feel secure that they are having a safe and enjoyable experience online.
