A recent national survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of The Kids Mental Health Foundation has highlighted that privacy and safety issues dominate parents’ concerns when it comes to their children’s screen time. As screen usage among children increases, the survey provides essential insights into parental fears and offers strategies for managing healthy digital boundaries.
The survey, which involved 1,085 adult parents of children under 18, found that nearly half of the respondents (47%) cited privacy and safety concerns as their foremost worry regarding screen time. Other significant concerns included exposure to misinformation (36%) and a lack of in-person socialisation (34%). In contrast, fewer parents expressed worries related to body image and academic performance.
“My biggest concerns with screens are making sure that my kids don’t get exposed to things before I’m ready for them to and making sure that people aren’t trying to contact them,” said Xia Chekwa, a mother of three from Columbus, Ohio. “They’re aware that not everywhere is a safe place, not everything is a safe thing to watch.”
The survey also revealed that eight out of ten parents actively implement strategies to manage their children’s screen time. The most common methods include setting time limits (58%), encouraging offline hobbies (53%), and utilising parental control apps (34%).
Dr. Ariana Hoet, executive clinical director of The Kids Mental Health Foundation, emphasised the importance of parental involvement in managing children’s technology use. “When it comes to screen time, we can’t expect kids to set their own limits and boundaries because this technology is made to keep us using it,” she explained. She encourages parents to engage with their children’s screen time habits, observing how they use technology and discussing their online interactions.
The Kids Mental Health Foundation provides free, evidence-informed resources to assist parents in establishing healthy screen time boundaries and understanding the impact of technology on children’s mental health. Dr. Hoet advocates for open conversations with children about their technology use, stating that such discussions not only demonstrate parental interest but also help parents learn about their children’s online behaviours.
Chekwa believes that having a well-defined social media plan and setting healthy boundaries with technology will benefit her children in the long run. “Eventually there’s going to come a time when we’re not there,” she noted. “And we want to make sure that she knows, and she can decipher and use her intuition for herself and not just because mom and dad said so.”
In alignment with Mental Health Awareness Month, The Kids Mental Health Foundation has launched the initiative “Kids Mental Health Starts With Us,” aimed at empowering adults across the United States to support children’s mental health and wellness proactively.
For further details and access to free resources, visit The Kids Mental Health Foundation’s website here.
Explore More Extra-Curriculum Activities that help reduce screen time while promoting social skills, creativity, and emotional wellbeing in children.
Get a special discount by quoting code AISLMALL during CHECKOUT.
3Education: Language Courses & Interest Classes
3HK provides a wide range of learning experiences for students including academic exploration (English, Chinese, Mathematics and Mandarin) and Enrichment classes (Visual Arts, Ballet, Taekwondo, Abacas Maths and Music). We advocate child-centered learning approach in which we serve children as the priority. We let children explore, share, spark in the classrooms. We provide professional support in helping children to design their individual learning plans to achieve whole-person development.
ActiveKids: The Chess Academy
Since 2004, ActiveKids has been specializing in delivering leading edge fun and educational programs to children ages 3 – 18 in Hong Kong. The Chess Academy offers Hong Kong’s top chess program, led by Grand Masters and expert FIDE coaches. Children learn from the best in a comprehensive program that enhances their strategic skills and character. Summer camps focus on improving tactics and challenging players of all levels.
AISL Outdoor: Holiday Camps
At AISL Outdoor, we believe every student deserves to learn and grow through discovery in the natural world. Our outdoor education programs provide transformative experiences that foster personal growth, leadership, and environmental stewardship. AISL Outdoor envisions a sustainable future where students develop a lifelong passion through learning outside the classroom.
CreativeKids: Design & Architect Programs
CreativeKids has been advancing creative development in children and teens since 1991 with art, design, and architecture programs. Their award-winning courses foster creativity, adaptability, and problem-solving, helping students excel academically and professionally. They also offer Creative Parenting workshops and support for special needs.
Drama Rainbow Education
DRE Learning Lab is an online course for children (5-11) using Drama in Education pedagogy. It offers interactive classes with tasks, drawing, and questions to enhance critical thinking. The course includes parent consultations, fosters independent learning, and promotes social skills through group collaboration.
Immerse Education - Academic & Career-Oriented Summer School Programs
Immerse Education‘s academic and career-oriented summer school programs provide ambitious high-school students from around the world with an unrivaled two-week experience, studying undergraduate-level subjects at leading educational institutions. All subjects are taught by Immerse-certified tutors with top qualifications in their fields, while participants receive academic mentorship and a host of tools to empower them for their future learning journeys.
KFBG Transformative and Mindfulness Forest Immersion Walk
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) spreads over 148 hectares of land on the northern slopes of Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong’s highest mountain. Surrounded by towering peaks, the site is rich with natural features, including streams, woodlands, orchards, vegetable gardens, walking trails, live animal exhibits, floral exhibits, sustainable agriculture demonstration plots, art exhibits, the Wild Animal Rescue Centre(WARC) etc.
Oxford Scholastica Academy: Oxford Summer School
Oxford Scholastica Academy offers summer courses for 12-18 year olds in subjects like Medicine, Business, Psychology, and Engineering. Experience a mix of theory and practice, learn from top tutors, and build lasting connections. The program inspires academic direction and personal growth in the heart of Oxford. We’d love to invite you to experience the magic of our Oxford summer school and online courses.
