Healthy device management and good digital citizenship are critical to our children’s mental health and wellness. On this page, we start with our own videos and blogs from experts and parents, followed by up-to-date resources from evidence-based national sources providing insight on numerous popular apps and games, specific strategies to promote healthy online behavior and safety, as well as to help reduce screen time and optimize mental health. For instructions to view this website in Spanish, click on en Español
Families Connected Resources
Featured video: March 5, 2024 event
Thank you to the Robinson Healthy Tech Group and the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation for bringing author of Screen Kids, Arlene Pellicane, to our community. Her full talk from the event on March 5th at Manhattan Beach Community Church is featured above.
Videos: advice from experts
View our Tech Time video for parenting tips from Leah Niehaus, LCSW.
View Dr. Don Grant’s Families Connected Speaker Series presentation on healthy device management, provided in partnership with Beach Cities Health District.
Featured blogs
Kim Digilio
Smart Phones and Social Media Access: What to Know Before the Genie is Out of the Bottle by Laura Short McIntire
Teens, Technology, and Social Media: Is it Time to Examine My Own Habits? by Kim Digilio
Some Thoughts on Cyberbullying, by Joan Stein Jenkins, Esq.
On the Minds of Parents: Teens, Technology, and Social Media, a synopsis of, and links to national articles
Bridging the Gap: Parenting & Technology by Randy Jo Hillier, LMFT (Part I of III)
Parenting tips and tools
1) Create device-free spaces for family time: prohibit devices during mealtime and restrict use of devices in the car. Scroll down for related helpful resources from the Family Dinner Project and Common Sense Media.
2) Ensure that devices don’t interfere with sleep: try to disengage from technology at least 30 minutes before bed, create a central docking station for family devices, and don’t use phones as alarm clocks.
3) Determine appropriate digital limits and rules of conduct as a family. Scroll down for digital device contracts, family agreements, insight regarding monitoring and how to discuss digital citizenship and decision-making with our kids.
4) Model and practice good digital boundaries and self regulation.
5) Be curious: express interest and create a dialogue — your children are often doing something productive and would value your genuine interest and support. (Source: Challenge Success)
Related resources for parents and guardians
Resources for teens
Curated Gallery of Resources
Clicking on the logos, images, and links below will take you out of the Families Connected website and to the online resource indicated. Families Connected Is not affiliated with these organizations, nor have these organizations paid to have their resources shared here.
Understand the impact of social media and screentime on youth mental health
Image Credit: NPR
The 2023 U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Social Media and Youth Mental Health full pdf, or a brief summary
Teens Say Social Media is Stressing Them Out. Here’s How to Help Them (National Public Radio)
How to Help Teens Manage the Effects of Social Media on the Their Mental Health (Common Sense Media)
How Using Social Media Affects Teenagers (Child Mind Institute)
Discord, Twitch, and Mental Health, What to Know (Screenagers)
When It Comes to Screens, Kids Need a Guide, Not a Disciplinarian (KQED/MindShift)
Girls and Social Media: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers (Common Sense Media)
Social Media and Self-Doubt (Child Mind Institute)
How Parents and Educators Can Support Healthy Teen Use of Social Media (KQED/MindShift)
Worried About Teens and Phones? 21 Questions for Parents to Ask (TODAY)
Teachers are on the front lines of a battle to change how teens use social media (CNN Business)
Resources to support optimal mental health and safety for youth
ScreenStrong empowers families to reclaim their kids from toxic screens. We recommend visiting their How Screens and Electronics Impact Kids’ Brains page and read their informative blogs.
Screen Sanity helps families and communities pursue digital health in order to reduce loneliness, depression, anxiety and suicide in a socially isolated society. Be sure to check out their free, downloadable parent guides .
The Center for Humane Technology, a coalition of early social media creators trying to reverse the digital attention crisis offers specific tips on how to minimize the unhealthy impact of our devices and digital engagement.
The Wait Until 8th pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least 8th grade. By banding together, we can decrease the pressure felt by kids and parents alike over kids having a smartphone. Read their reasons to wait.
Click on the image above to access great conversation starters and dinner games, to download a free guide, and participate in the Family Dinner Project. Additional tips and suggestions for device-free dinners are provided by Common Sense Media.
Common Sense Media is dedicated to helping kids thrive in a world of media and technology. If you have questions on how to take control of the technology in your kids' lives.
Challenge Success offers parents outstanding digital media tips, resources and guides for a balanced approach to digital media.
Connect Safely is dedicated to educating users of connected technology about safety, privacy and security.
Digital Detox® is an internationally-recognized company focused on helping people be more present and improve the balance with technology use in their lives. They aim to inspire, educate, and empower individuals to create more mindful, meaningful, well-rounded lives both online and off.
Learn about everything from TikTok to Snapchat on their Learning Hubs and take a FREE Digital Citizenship Course for Parents or Educators.
The Children and Screens Institute of Digital Media and Child Development’s vision is to understand and address compelling questions regarding media’s impact on child development.
What to know about popular apps and games
Kids are lobbying to be able to interact with their friends on SnapChat, Instagram, and TikTok. They feel left out if other kids are allowed to have access to social media and they’re not. But there’s potential for serious harm if kids aren’t mature enough to make good decisions about what to share, who to share it with, and how to handle negative feedback. Please check out the video and resources below for guidance.
Parental controls, monitoring and contracts
Parents’ Guide to Google Search (Connect Safely)
Parents' Ultimate Guide to Parental Controls (Common Sense Media)
How to Block Pornography on Your Child’s Device (Common Sense Media)
Monitoring vs Independence: Finding the Balance (Parent and Teen)
Screen Time Contracts.(Screenagers)
Media Planner (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Cellphones and Devices: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers (Common Sense Media)
Promote healthy online behavior
Safety Tips and Advice (Connect Safely)
What Should I Teach My Kid About Safe Online Behavior (Common Sense Media)
Help Kids Navigate Viral Social Media Stunts (Common Sense Media)
Help Teens Avoid Mistakes on Social Media (Center for Parent and Teen Communication)
11 Social Media Red Flags Parents Should Know About (Common Sense Media)
How To Resist The Vortex Of Click Bait (Screenagers)
How to Talk to Teenagers About Porn (Child Mind Institute)
Kids & Tech: Tips for Parents in the Digital Age (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Guide to Media Literacy and False Information (Connect Safely)
Parents’ Guide to Teen Sextortian Scams (Connect Safely)
Develop healthy device management
KQED/Mindshift
How to Set Limits on Screen Time (Child Mind Institute)
When Should You Come Between a Teenager and Her Phone? (Child Mind Institute)
Healthy Limits on Video Games (Child Mind Institute)
How Technology can be Part of a Healthy Life (Greater Good Science Center)
How to Help Kids Manage Sleep, Schoolwork and Screens (KQED/MindShift)
Five Tips for Helping Teens Manage Technology (Greater Good Science Center)
Which of These 8 Hacks Decrease Screen Time? Take The Hack Challenge (Screenagers)
At Your Wits' End With A Screen-Obsessed Kid? (KQED/MindShift)
Is Internet Addiction Real? (Child Mind Institute)
How to Limit Your Child’s Screentime (Verywell Family)
Tablet and Smartphone Boot Camp for Middle School Parents (Greater Good Science Center)
For More Youth Wellness Resources, Visit:
For South Bay parents and caregivers
Go to South Bay Families Connected’s landing page to view a local events, the Teen Resource Center, to sign-up for the SBFC monthly parent e-newsletter, and more.
For parents and caregivers in the U.S.A.
Visit the Families Connected landing page for non-region-specific, free youth wellness online resources.