Stop the Screen Time Battle: 3 Questions that Build Media Literacy

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Dreading asking (telling) your child to turn off their screen? Here are some suggestions. Instead of saying "Turn that off," try walking up to them 5 minutes before the time is up and asking one of these:

❓"Who made this?"

Why it works: It helps a your older child realize that a person (or a company) created the video to make them feel or do something. This is the foundation of AI and advertisement literacy.

❓"How does this game/show want you to feel right now?"

Why it works: It builds emotional intelligence. If a game is designed to make them feel "frantic" or "addicted" to the next level, they start to notice the "hook."

❓"What is one thing you learned that we could try in real life?"

Why it works: This is the "Bridge." If they are watching Minecraft builds, the real-life activity is Legos. If they are watching a science experiment, the activity is a kitchen project.

It turns passive consumption into Connected Play.

What would you add to this list?

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