Helping Your Child Manage Digital Technology
Digital technologies can support learning and skill development, connections with others, and access to help. With limits and balance, these tools can offer meaningful experiences for children and youth, beyond their educational use. However, excessive screen use can impact your child’s mental health and well-being. It is important to consider your child’s relationship with digital technology.
For some children, using screens offers fun and a sense of belonging. However, for others, excessive use of digital technology can be problematic. Research shows a direct link between the number of hours spent on screens and the development of mental health problems. This resource highlights the importance of monitoring your child’s screen activity.
How do I know if my child’s screen time is problematic?
The following signs can help identify and address a potential issue before it gets too big:
- Does your child prefer screens to hobbies, physical activities and face-to-face interaction?
- Does your child’s use of digital technology prevent them from engaging in age-appropriate activities?
- Does their screen use impact your child’s sleep?
- Is your child more irritable, anxious, sad, or less interested in activities they once enjoyed?
- Is your child overly concerned about their online presence?
- Is your child less engaged in school?
- Is your child spending money on-line?
- Could your child be experiencing withdrawal from excessive screen time?
If you feel your child’s digital technology use is problematic:
- Monitor your own screen use to model a healthy relationship with digital technology.
- Rather than react in the moment, schedule a conversation when you both feel calm.
- Use supportive language when sharing your concerns and allow your child to express their thoughts and feelings.
- Consider a gradual approach to modifying screen use rather than banning them completely.
- Work with your child to set goals for age-appropriate technology use.
- Establish mutually agreed-upon house rules, including technology-free times and consider a family agreement.
- Encourage face-to-face interactions with friends and family and explore a new hobby together.
- If your child agrees, consider using digital control tools.
- Try to determine the reasons behind your child’s excessive screen time and consider contacting a mental health professional if you have concerns.
Note: Please see the PDF version for further descriptions and information
Helpful Websites
- Canadian Pediatric Society, Caring for Kids
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Kids Help Phone
- Sickkids, AboutKidsHealth
- Media Smarts
- Screen Time Action Network
- Centre of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health
Sources of Professional Support
- Canadian Mental Health Association – Ontario Division outlines services available to support youth experiencing addictions
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has services related to problem gambling and technology use.
- Children’s Mental Health Ontario Find a Centre helps you to locate a Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions organization near you.
- Connex Ontario provides free and confidential health services information for people experiencing problems with alcohol and drugs, mental illness or gambling/gaming.
- One Stop Talk provides direct and immediate access to a mental health professional for children and youth 17 and under for brief interventions and streamlined access to more intensive services when needed.
- Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario provide high-quality integrated youth services to support the well-being of young people aged 12 to 25, including mental health and substance use supports, primary health care, community and social supports, and more.
- Your child’s school. Every school board in Ontario has a Mental Health Leader and most also have regulated psychology and social work staff who provide prevention and early intervention services. Ask about the school mental health services in your school and board.
Research Papers
- American Psychological Association. Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence.
- Abi-Jaoude et al, (2020), Smartphones, social media use and youth mental health, Canadian Medical Association Journal, 192 (6) 136-141.
- Canadian Paediatric Society, Digital Health Task Force (2019). Digital media: Promoting healthy screen use in school-aged children and adolescents. Paediatric Child Health, 24(6):402–408
- Canadian Paediatric Society, Digital Health Task Force (2023). Screen time and preschool children: Promoting health and development in a digital world. Paediatric Child Health, 28(3):184–192.
- Hale, L., et al. (2018). Youth Screen Media Habits and Sleep: Sleep-Friendly Screen Behavior Recommendations for Clinicians, Educators, and Parents. Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America, 27(2), 229–245.
- Idrees, B., Sampasa-Kanyinga, H., Hamilton, H. A., & Chaput, J. P. (2024). Associations between problem technology use, life stress, and self-esteem among high school students. BMC public health, 24(1), 492.
- Li et al. (2021). Screen use and mental health symptoms in Canadian children and youth during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of the American Medical Association, Network Open, 4(12), e2140875.
- Office of the Surgeon General (2023). Social media and youth mental health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory. US Department of Health and Human Services.
- Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario). Sedentary behaviour indicators using data from the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth. Toronto, ON: King’s Printer for Ontario; 2024.
- Plackett, et al. (2023). The impact of social media use interventions on mental well-being: Systematic Review. Journal of medical Internet research, 25, e44922.
- Toombs E, Mushquash CJ, Mah L, et al. (2022) Increased screen time for children and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Science Briefs of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, 3(59).