6 Tips to Modeling Healthy Tech for Busy Parents
In today’s digital world, where many parents work from home and screens are essential, modeling healthy tech habits can be challenging. But every small effort counts, and creating intentional tech habits can have lasting benefits.
Juggling work, family time, and the many demands of daily life on devices makes it easy to feel stretched thin. But every small effort counts, and creating intentional tech habits can have lasting benefits. Modeling healthy screen use shows kids that technology is a productive tool—not a barrier between parent and child—and that we’re in control of our tech, not the other way around.
Here are six realistic strategies to model tech as a tool, so your kids can grow up with a balanced, healthy approach to screen time:
1. Narrate Your Phone Use
Narrating your screen use is a simple yet powerful way to let your kids know exactly what you’re doing on your device. When you take a moment to say, “I’m going to check the weather to see if you need jackets today.” or “I need to get some work done, so I’m checking my calendar now,” you’re signaling that your screen time has purpose. This transparency reassures them that you’re not choosing screens over them and helps them see tech as a tool. Over time, narrating this way turns screens into something functional in their minds, rather than mysterious or addictive.
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2. Opt for a Computer if Possible
Using a computer, instead of a phone, helps clarify when you’re doing productive work versus recreational screen time. It’s easier for kids to see and understand work on a larger screen, while phones often seem more mysterious and can create assumptions that you’re “just scrolling.” Choosing the larger screen, if possible, can make it clear that you’re working, planning, or organizing—intentional tasks that children recognize and understand.
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3. Set Personal Boundaries
Boundaries aren’t just for kids—they’re equally important for us as adults. Avoid social media or playing games while your kids are nearby. Not only does this help you stay present, but it also shows that we don’t need to reach for screens out of habit. If you need a break or downtime, model a screen-free activity, like reading a book or doing something creative. Seeing you take intentional breaks away from screens helps them build healthy habits around tech use, too.
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​Read more on setting personal boundaries
4. Call Your Work "Homework"
Labeling your work as “homework” helps create a sense of shared experience for school-aged kids who understand what it’s like to have tasks they need to focus on. By calling it “homework,” you’re making it relatable and building empathy for the time and focus you need to be productive. It gives them a frame of reference that says, “I have responsibilities just like you do,” reinforcing that screens can be used for important tasks that require concentration.
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Read more on The Power of "Homework"
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5. Create a Family Code Word
Introduce a family code word or phrase that means “Could you get off your screen?” This code isn’t just for your kids; it’s a signal for you, too. If possible, take a moment to put your device down and focus on them. If you’re in the middle of a task, simply remind them that you’re finishing up “homework” or need a few more minutes. This code word shows that screens aren’t a priority over family, creating an environment where screens are secondary to connection.
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​Read more to learn how LkUp Co-Founder Tessa discovered the importance of the code word
6. Keep the Dialogue Open
Having regular discussions about tech—both your habits and theirs—keeps the door open for questions, comments, and concerns about screen use. Talk about the times when screens feel like a tool and when they don’t. Let them share their own thoughts about tech use and explore examples of healthy versus unhealthy tech use together. These conversations create an open atmosphere where screen habits are viewed as choices rather than rules, fostering a sense of mutual respect.
What LookUp is Trying to Say...
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Modeling healthy tech use won’t look perfect every day, but with consistent effort, you’ll start to see the impact in how your kids relate to screens. By showing that tech is primarily a tool, you’re preparing them to use it wisely and with purpose—habits that will support them for life.