A Few Ways to Avoid Digital Media Overload

 Some of us are old enough to remember when the following things were true about the world we lived in during our childhood:

a.There were only 5 to 6 channels on television (no cable/satellite).

b. If you had free time, you went outside to play. No one wanted to stay inside (no chat rooms, Neopets, Webkins).

c. When you called someone and there was no answer, you called them back later (no voice mail/cell phones).

d. The only people that had knowledge of your whereabouts were your parents and the people that were with you no Foursquare, Banjo).

e. If you needed to know/learn something, you looked it up in a dictionary or the World Book Encyclopedia set that your parents purchased from the door to door salesperson (no Wikipedia, Google, Bing).


The world is much different now. We are in the Digital Age. Computers have been taken to a level I'm sure many of us never would have imagined and is an integral part of our daily lives (regardless of one's age group. As a result, many young people (and adults alike) have ventured into the realm of "Digital Media Overload". The instant gratification one experiences from a Facebook post, Tweet, e-mail, text message, Instagram photo and so on has reached epidemic proportions. Everyone is literally obsessed with being connected. I will have to spend some time thinking about what adults can do to avoid this addiction. However, here are five ways parents/guardians can help their children avoid being sucked into the black hole that is Digital Media Overload:


1. Start good habits early.

• Establish boundaries. This will reduce any chance for misunderstandings
  
• Start when your kids are young by restricting access to media:Turn the phone off during homework...instant messaging as well 
  
• Keep an eye on the clock: the secret to healthy media use is to establish time limits and be diligent about it.
  

2. Use media together. 

• For older kids, talk about what you see, hear, and read. 
  
• Pay attention: watch, play, listen, and surf with your kids. 
  
• Talk about the content, and stay engaged with what your kids are doing online and on the go (a considerable amount of “online time” is with a smartphone)
  
• Share your values, and help kids connect what they learn in the media to events and other activities in which they're involved, in order to broaden their understanding of the world at large.
  

3. Keep distractions to a minimum. 

• Try to help kids do one thing at a time. Mutli-tasking doesn't directly relate to being more productive.
  
• For older kids, make sure that social networking and chatting happen after homework is over or during timed intervals.
  

4. Be a role model. 

• When kids are around, set an example by using media the way you want them to use it. 
  
• Keep mobile devices away from the dinner table.
  
• Turn the TV off when it's not actively being watched. 
  
• Use a DVR to record shows that may be inappropriate for your kids (news programs) and watch them at a later time when kids aren't around.
  

5. Seek balance. 

• If your child is going to thrive with digital media, balance is key. 
  
• Help kids develop responsible media habits and good digital citizenship, so they can pursue their interests in a responsible and intelligent manner
  
• They'll be exposed to the good, bad, and ugly, but with a solid foundation they will have the tools to make good decisions regarding media of all kinds.
  

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