TABLE 1.
Behavioral Strategies and Example Wording to Promote Effective TECH Parenting
| TECH Parenting | Behavioral Strategies | Example Wording and Rules | |
|---|---|---|---|
| T | Talk to your kids about their media use and monitor their activities | Ask questions in an open and nonjudgmental way | What is your favorite TV show? |
| Seek information on media your child consumes (eg, connect in social media) | What do you like to watch when you go over to your friend’s house? | ||
| Find out what TV, movies, applications, social media, and video games their friends like | How do you interact with your friends on social media? | ||
| Stay informed about new media sources | What new applications are you using? | ||
| E | Educate your children about media-related risks | Describe marketing practices of alcohol, tobacco, food, and cannabis industries | Do you notice how alcohol companies use partying or sex to promote drinking? |
| Discuss how media rarely depicts negative consequences of risky behavior | That show had a lot of drinking in it, but it didn’t show anyone getting sick. | ||
| Discuss normative, legal, and safe behavior as it relates to substance use and sexual behavior | It’s uncommon for children your age to drink alcohol, and most don’t drink at all. | ||
| C | Co-view and co-use media with your kids actively | Watch appropriate, kid-targeted media together | Let’s watch your favorite show together! |
| Model turning off inappropriate content and explain why it is not appropriate | I’m sorry, but this show has too much alcohol use in it; we need to turn it off. | ||
| Learn about your child’s applications, video games, social media, and Internet sources | Wow, that bullying was really mean. What might you have done differently to help? | ||
| Spend time learning about who funds media sources and what data new media sources collect | Tell me about this new application you downloaded; how does it work? | ||
| Who sponsors this application? Let’s find out together. | |||
| H | Establish house rules for media usage | Set clear boundaries on rating level of media allowed and where media is allowed in the house | No R-rated movies; only actively co-view PG-13 movies or shows over TV-Y7. |
| Use technology (eg, TV show V-chip parental controls) to promote house rules | No screened media in the bedroom. | ||
| Set up rules specifically related to industry-sponsored media | No Facebook account until 13 y old. | ||
| Take the “wait until eighth” pledge | No industry-sponsored application or online game use. | ||
| No youth smartphone ownership until eighth grade. | |||
Additional resources include AAP Media Guidelines, Circle Disney Parental Control, Common Sense Media, www.mediatechparenting.net, and www.waituntil8th.org. PG-13, parental guidance suggested for children <13 y old; TV, television; TV-Y7, television for children ≥7 y old.