Homeschooling Wisdom for Screen Time

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finish Well Homeschool Podcast, Podcast #Finish Well; Teen; Parent; Homeschool; education; family; Christian; Internet; Safety; Web; Site, Homeschooling Wisdeom for Screen Time, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

Homeschooling Wisdom for Screen Time

In “Homeschooling Wisdom for Screen Time,” Episode, #159, Meredith Curtis honestly shares how the power of the internet took her by surprise as a parent and as it became more emeshed in our daily lives, she needed wisdom! Meredith talks honestly about the damage she has seen from attention span issues to pornography addictions. She has sound insight that must be transmitted to our children so they can participate in making wise choices and become responsible in their screen time usage as adults.

 

 

 

 


Colossians 1:28 by Laura Nolette and Powerline Productions, Inc.

 

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Show Notes

When I homeschooled my oldest daughter, the internet wasn’t really a big part of our lives. As I homeschooled down the line, the internet became a bigger and bigger aspect of daily life. Soon it was on our phones and even homeschool assignments at co-op involved the internet.

The internet felt like a big monster that was ready to gobble my children up.

Nowhere to Hide from the Internet

Sneaking TV shows online

Things I didn’t want my children to see

Online games, Online gaming

Research

Hanging Out with Television Characters

Psych, Marvel superheroes

We become like those we hang out with—that includes characters on shows and movies

Proverbs 13: 20 says, “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.”

Old TV Shows Worth Watching

Screen Time Impacts Your Attention Span

Limited older more than younger

I wanted the kids to read, draw, paint, create, play music, and play outside. I didn’t want them to waste hours in front of a phone, TV, computer, or tablet.

Never too late.

Created to Be Addictive

Moms on Instagram

Game creators

Old TV Shows Worth Watching

Pornography & Predators

If the internet was a mall with 10,000 stores in it. 9,900 of those stores would be pornographic or sexual in nature. The internet sells sex. It is a haven and stomping ground for sexual predators and sex traffickers.

Sad situations

Researching? Remember Google has a Political Agenda

If anything the last election taught us it’s that Google, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter have a political agenda and use it aggressively.

If we want our children to hear both sides of a political or more issue, we need to show them where to look.

Conservative news sites

Creation science sites

Teach Our Children & Teens

  • They need to remember that TV characters they watch often will impact their own character.
  • Screen time will limit their attention span.
  • Social media sites, online games, and almost everything online is designed to be addictive, especially pornography.
  • Predators and sex traffickers prowl online regularly for children, teens, and young adults. They lie about their identity all the time.
  • And, finally, if they are going to research online they need to remember that the search engine Google (and many others) actually have a political agenda that is contrary to the teachings of Scripture.
  • We live in a world where we must use the internet. We can use it safely, but we need to not just protect our children but share these truths and envision them to take part in protecting themselves.

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Resources

These resources help your teen grow in virtue and life skills/soft skills

Newspaper Reporting by Meredith Curtis Travel God's World Geography by Meredith Curtis National Parks Fact Cards by Meredith Curtis HIS Story of the 20th Century by Meredith Curtis

 

Intentional Summer Screen Time

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Intentional Summer Screen Time

133: Intentional Summer Screen Time with Sara Radginski

Sara Radinski joins us to share her idea of intentional summer screen time – instead of having battles with your children over screen time all summer. Listen to the episode to understand her plan.

Here are some resources she mentions:

Be sure to join the Summer Screen Time Challenge This will help you with ideas on how to make screentime intentional and you may learn about resources you didn’t know about too!

You can find Sara at Techie Homeschool Mom and her Facebook group TechinYourHomeschool

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Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode.

And take a look at the online classes and resources provided by show sponsor FundaFunda Academy.

Intentional Summer Screen Time

How much screentime for your children?

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

How Much Screen Time for Your Children

Episode 55: How much screentime for your children?

My previous episode on Homeschooling Digital Natives gives context to this episode so if you haven’t listened to it yet, you might it helpful as you consider the question, “How much screentime for your children?”

I suggest you look for balance and to help you, here are some things I think you should consider:

1. Too much time on computer screens isn’t good for any of us. This is particularly true at night as it affects sleep. See this article by Beth Napoli aka Techie Homeschool Mom.

2. Too much time spent sitting and doing things online means children aren’t spending that time being active.

3. Tech addiction is a real problem for some children

4. The current generation is the most anxious generation that we know about. This is not only due to tech use, but social media, in particular, can have negative effects on mental health.

5. On the flip side, online gaming can be social time if friends and family are playing together.

6. Children need to learn tech skills to operate in the world.

7. Technology is how your teens will connect with their peers and make plans to do things offline. It is always a way to connect with family members who don’t live in the same area.

8. Technology opens up a huge world for your children. It helps them understand others better as they can learn about people all over the world. They can also find resources to teach them anything they want to learn.

What are your options on how to limit screen time?

Here are some ideas:

  • Put limits on devices
  • Have specific times children can be online, or times they must be offline.
  • Allow them online only after they have finished schoolwork and chores
  • Allow unlimited computer time but only if they are being productive online. This is an idea I read about from Beth Napoli. Read her whole blog post and see what you think.

Whatever you decide to do, talk to your kids about it and explain your reasoning.

I would also suggest you make sure your children are involved in enough activities like 4-H, scouts, sports and community service that they don’t have too much time to be in front of a screen.

Listen to the whole episode as I further develop the ideas I mention above.

Subscribe to the podcast as we will be covering more topics like this in the near future. And be sure to join our Facebook group where we can talk about this together.

Visit our sponsor FundaFunda Academy and take a look at their web-based unit studies.

Contact Meryl via email on meryl@mediaangels.com or connect with her on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook

How Much Screen Time for Your Children #homeschoolpodcast #screentime #homeschooltechnology