By Michaela Gordoni
Bark’s chief parent officer, Titania Jordan, has some tips to help your family transform their digital habits.
Prioritize Play
“No schedule. No screens. Just sunshine, nature, and freedom. Or rain. Let them get muddy,” said Jordan. “Movement and nature reset kids in ways screens never will.”
Don’t be deterred by the old, “Mom, I’m bored!” Boredom makes room for creativity.
“It gives kids the space to create, solve problems, and just be kids,” said Jordan. “We do not need to hover all the time or serve as a constant activities director. Let them daydream, tinker, build, and explore without constant entertainment.”
Encourage Real-World Friendships
The amount of high school seniors who spent time with friends in person “almost every day” dropped from 44% in 2010 to 32% in 2022, according to Monitoring the Future.
“Kids need in-person, screen-free connection to build confidence and social skills,” explained Jordan.
Related: Could This One Habit Break Your Child’s Screen Time Addiction and Depression?
Make arrangements for your kids to spend time with their friends without technology.
“Friends also have a powerful influence on a child’s positive and negative school performance and may also help to encourage or discourage deviant behaviors. Compared to children who lack friends, children with ‘good’ friends have higher self-esteem, act more socially, can cope with life stresses and transitions, and are also less victimized by peers,” said Paul Schwartz , psychologist and child behavior expert.
Good Sleep is Key
“Please do not allow any connected tech in bedrooms or behind closed doors,” emphasized Jordan. “Proper sleep is non-negotiable for optimal mental and physical health.”
Research shows almost 50% of kids ages 6 to 17 don’t get the sleep they need. Make sure your kids have a good, tech-free sleep environment and aren’t on screens for an hour before bedtime.
Have Screen-Free zones
Have places in your home that are designated screen-free areas. For example, bedrooms, bathrooms and the dining table.
“Land on specific tech-free zones (bedrooms) or times at home like breakfast, dinner, or car rides,” Jordan said.
Make a Family Tech Plan
Create a contract with your kids that lists rules for acceptable tech use.
“It doesn’t have to be complicated; shared expectations that everyone helps design are sufficient,” said Jordan. “Collaboration reduces arguments and increases cooperation.”
“Like your family, it can be flexible and adaptable,” explained digital learning advisor Daniel Donahoo. “So, even if the rules say one thing but your child is getting something really strong and useful out of doing something creative on a tablet, making some beautiful thing, then that doesn’t mean you sort of have to stop them because the family technology plan says to. Basically what you’re trying to do as parents is to create a technology plan that avoids points of tension and conflict.”
Continue the Conversation
This isn’t something that you address once and never speak of again. Stay up to date with your kid’s tech use and make sure they know how to navigate it as they get older.
“Ask them how they can spot misinformation, question sources, and understand algorithms,” Jordan said. “These skills matter more than ever.”
She added, “This isn’t about perfection; it’s about presence. You don’t need to do it all at once, but you do need to start with one of these small steps towards a healthier relationship with tech in 2026. You’ve got this!”
Implementing tips like these could change your family’s tech habits this year.
Read Next: Did You Know This About Americans’ Screen Time Habits?
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