How to Be a Good Digital Role Model for Your Child

Before we can guide our kids, we have to look at ourselves

We all want our kids to use screens responsibly. But often, that starts not with rules or restrictions—but with us.

Kids, especially in middle childhood, are always watching. They look to us for cues on how to behave, what to prioritize, and what to believe is "normal" behavior. So when it comes to teaching responsible screen use, how we use technology around our kids matters just as much as what we say about it.

That doesn’t mean you have to be perfect. Of course there will be moments when you're checking work emails at the dinner table or scrolling in exhaustion after a long day. But the key is being mindful and modeling the kind of digital habits we hope to see in our children.