Screentime
Dear Families,
As always, it’s a privilege to walk alongside your children during such a rich and complex stage of life. We know adolescence brings huge growth, emotion, and change—not just for teens, but for families too. One area many parents ask about is screen time: how much is too much, and how can we support healthy habits?
Below is a short summary that brings together current research, brain-based insight, and practical tips to help your child stay balanced, connected, and well.
Why Monitoring Screen Time Matters for Teenagers
Screens are a major part of teen life, but too much can affect mood, sleep, learning, and relationships. Social media is linked to anxiety, poor self-esteem, and disrupted sleep.
Adolescents are in a key stage of brain development—wiring for emotional regulation, decision-making, and social connection. Interpersonal neurobiology highlights that real-time human connection—eye contact, presence, shared conversation—nurtures the brain’s growth in ways screens can’t replace. When screen time crowds out these experiences, teens may miss vital opportunities to build resilience, empathy, and emotional balance.
Supporting screen time balance is especially important for education, as it helps protect focus, sleep, and meaningful learning.
What Helps
Set tech-free times (like before bed or during meals), keep devices out of bedrooms, encourage hobbies and real-world connection, and model healthy screen habits. Supporting balance helps teens grow into emotionally connected, reflective adults.
Please reach out if you have any questions.
Warm regards,
Wellbeing Team.
BodyKind August
