120 Hawaii Parent July/August 2026 inappropriate content, try to stay calm and use it as an opportunity for conversation. Ask what they saw, how it made them feel, and answer any questions in an age-appropriate way. Avoid shaming or punishing them, as this may discourage them from coming to you in the future. Instead, reinforce family guidelines about screen use and discuss why certain content may not be suitable for children. Reviewing parental controls, privacy settings, and device restrictions can also help reduce the chances of similar situations happening again. If your child intentionally seeks out inappropriate content, it’s important to respond with curiosity rather than anger. Children are naturally curious, especially as they grow older and gain more access to technology. Start by asking what motivated them to look for the content and listen without immediately judging or lecturing. This can help you better understand whether it was curiosity, peer influence, boredom, or something else. Use the conversation as an opportunity to discuss online safety, healthy decision-making, and your family’s expectations around media use. Clear boundaries and consistent consequences may be necessary, but maintaining open communication is often the most effective way to help children make better choices in the future. Create a Family Media Plan One of my students shared his family’s media plan, where everyone can see their digital device rules. Specific screen time limits and acceptable content rules were placed on the fridge, in each bedroom, and even in the bathrooms. This helped prevent sneaky behavior, as many may sneak playtime on their iPad past bedtime. Shutting down Wi-Fi can be an effective way to limit screen time, but kids often switch to cellular data to work around this challenge. Setting boundaries could also include no digital devices during meals, the first hour after waking up, or turning in phones in the evening or at an agreed-upon time. Keep devices outside of the bedrooms to avoid latenight gaming or scrolling on social media. Focus on balance rather than punishment, teaching the importance of carving out time for
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