• Screen time is a privilege, therefore, is only allowed when all other school work and chores are done, and only for a short period of time.
   
• The younger the child is, the less screen time they should have (for developmental reasons). If under 6 years old, we allow 10 minutes or less on a hand-held device, and one 30-minute video per day. Ages 6-12 years, 20 minutes of screen time (includes gaming), and one hour video per day. Teens: depends on the responsibility of the teen.
   
• If a school subject calls for computer usage (which does not count as their reward time on the screen) a parent needs to know when, where, and how long. The student is not allowed to go to ANY site without permission. Teach your kids the online dangers of technology. No chat rooms or private messaging without parental supervision.
   
• All bedroom doors must remain open when on a computer or hand-held device. It is safest to keep technology use in open areas.
   
• Devices should not charge in a child's room at night, but in an open area away from bedrooms.
   
• Put guards/filters on your wi-fi router and/or parental controls on all devices.
   
• Non-school days, no screen time until children have been creative or productive or been outdoors first. Computers should not take the place of imaginative play, or creative activity.
   
• Older children may need more screen time for class assignments. Talk to them about being distracted by less important things and the many traps associated with technology.
   
• Extra screen time is allowed on occasion, but the child must first do something for the family like an extra chore, help a sibling, or helping prep a meal. Sometimes, the kids have a "laundry party" and fold loads while watching a video.
   
• If there is any disrespect, grumbling or complaining, one of the first things to go is electronics. Being grounded from all electronics for a day or two, really makes the children think about their "real life" actions.
   
• Moms need time limits, too. It's too easy to let that blog or social media use up valuable time. Instead of interacting with our children or doing what needs to be done in real life, we are interacting with a screen. We can easily click our way into frustration as other things pile up. Kids are frustrated that they don't have our full attention. Setting an evening screen time can be a reward for a day filled with real life ministry.

We could lose valuable time that we can never get back. We could easily let another day go by where we haven't done something for the spiritual life of the home, or spent time talking with that child that needs our attention. After all, it's easy to check out of real life for the momentary pleasure of technology in all its forms. Sometimes we just have to say, "No!" to ensure the best and highest use of our time. It's being a good steward of the hours in the day that God has given us.

Take control of the technology beast before it takes control of you and your family. Let's do what Ephesians 5:16 says and, "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."