During the winter months, children and teens often spend more time indoors and online. Shorter days, colder weather, and school breaks naturally increase screen use for learning, gaming, social connection, and entertainment.
Technology is part of everyday life for families. The goal is not to eliminate screens, but to help children use them in ways that support healthy development. Online safety today includes consideration of emotional wellbeing, sleep, learning, physical health, and personal safety. These areas are closely interconnected.
As we begin 2026, this guide offers practical, age-appropriate ways families can support safer and healthier digital habits.
Understanding Today’s Digital Environment
The online world continues to change quickly. New apps, games, and features often appear faster than families can evaluate them.
Platforms such as TikTok, Roblox, and Discord can offer creativity and connection. Many also include social and messaging features that may not be immediately obvious.
One of the most effective tools for families is curiosity. Asking children to show you what they enjoy online and how a game or app works opens the door to ongoing conversation. When parents understand the platforms their children use, it becomes easier to guide decision-making and set thoughtful boundaries together.
Revisiting privacy settings and expectations as children grow helps keep guidance current rather than reactive.
Supporting Social and Emotional Wellbeing
Online interactions can shape how children see themselves and others. Group chats, social platforms, and multiplayer games can foster connection, but they can also heighten comparison, exclusion, or unkind behavior.
Instead of focusing only on monitoring activity, it can be helpful to pay attention to emotional cues. Changes in mood, increased irritability, withdrawal, or reluctance to discuss online experiences may signal that something is not sitting well.
Supportive approaches include asking open-ended questions about how online interactions feel, normalizing that online spaces can sometimes feel overwhelming, and reassuring children that asking for help does not automatically lead to losing device access. Helping children practice strategies such as muting, blocking, or reporting can also build confidence and resilience.
When children feel emotionally supported, they are more likely to speak up early.
Screens, Learning, and Attention
Screens can support learning, but frequent multitasking and constant notifications can make sustained focus more difficult, particularly during the school year.
If attention or homework routines feel more challenging, it may help to look at how screens are integrated into the day rather than focusing on outcomes alone.
Families often find success by establishing consistent homework routines with limited distractions, encouraging device-free time during reading or studying, and scheduling gaming or entertainment after academic responsibilities. Regular breaks away from screens can also help the brain reset.
For younger children, balancing screen use with hands-on play, reading, and conversation supports language and cognitive development.
Sleep and Physical Health
Sleep is one of the areas most affected by screen habits. Evening screen use can delay sleep onset and reduce sleep quality, which in turn affects mood, attention, and immune health.
Gradual, consistent routines tend to be more effective than abrupt changes. Creating a calming bedtime routine that does not involve screens, turning off devices at least one hour before bed, and charging phones and tablets outside the bedroom overnight can support healthier sleep patterns.
Encouraging physical activity and outdoor time during the day also helps offset some of the physical effects of prolonged screen use, including eye strain and posture discomfort.
Safety and Privacy Awareness
Online safety is an ongoing skill that develops over time. Children benefit most when safety guidance is age-appropriate and revisited regularly.
Rather than relying only on rules, families can focus on building awareness and confidence by talking about what information is safe to share, why private messaging and location sharing require caution, how to recognize scams or impersonation, and what to do if something online feels confusing or uncomfortable.
Reinforcing that trusted adults are available for support helps children make safer choices as independence grows.
Online Safety at Every Age
Children’s digital needs change significantly as they grow. Tailoring guidance by developmental stage helps families support independence while maintaining safety.
Elementary School (Ages 5–10)
Younger children benefit from clear structure and shared experiences. Keeping devices in shared family spaces, using parental controls as support tools, and co-watching or co-playing when possible can provide natural opportunities for guidance.
Conversations at this age should focus on kindness, honesty, and telling an adult if something online feels confusing or upsetting. Screens work best when they complement play, reading, and face-to-face interaction.
Middle School (Ages 11–13)
Middle school brings greater independence and more complex social dynamics. Ongoing conversations are especially important at this stage.
Reviewing privacy settings together, setting expectations around screen-free times, and talking openly about group chats and gaming interactions can help children navigate peer pressure and online conflict. Changes in sleep, mood, or school engagement may offer early clues that online stress is present.
High School (Ages 14–18)
Teens use technology for connection, creativity, and schoolwork while developing identity and independence. Support at this stage works best when it feels collaborative.
Conversations often shift toward judgment, long-term impact, and balance rather than strict rules. Topics such as digital footprints, privacy, sleep habits, and emotional health remain important. Reinforcing that asking for help is part of responsible independence helps maintain trust.
Partnering With Families
Online safety is not a single conversation. It evolves as children grow and as technology changes. Concerns about screen use, sleep, mood, learning, or online experiences are always appropriate to discuss during pediatric visits.
Our team is here to partner with families as children and teens navigate the digital world in ways that support their health, development, and wellbeing.
Additional Resources for Families
For parents who would like to explore online safety and digital wellbeing in more depth, the following trusted resources offer practical guidance, tools, and age-appropriate information.
Digital Safety and Media Guidance
- American Academy of Pediatrics
Comprehensive guidance on media use, social media, youth mental health, and practical recommendations for families. - Thorn
Conversation guides, education, and practical tools to help parents talk with children and teens about online safety, boundaries, and digital behavior. - Common Sense Media
Reviews and age ratings for apps, games, movies, and social platforms, along with parent guides on screen use and digital citizenship.
Privacy, Scams, and Online Protection
- Federal Trade Commission — Protecting Kids Online
Practical tips and up-to-date guidance on privacy, social networking, cyberbullying, and general online safety. - NetSmartz (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)
Age-appropriate online safety education for children and teens, with videos, games, and interactive tools designed to teach safe and responsible digital behavior. Also includes parent and caregiver resources to support conversations about privacy, cyberbullying, and online risks. - DOJ — Keeping Children Safe Online
Federal guidance for parents and caregivers on online risks, including exploitation and inappropriate contact, with practical tips for supervision, privacy, and recognizing concerning behavior. Includes information on reporting and support resources.
Mental Health and Digital Wellbeing
- Mental Health America — Protecting Your Child’s Mental Health Online
Practical guidance on how online content and social media use can affect kids’ emotional well-being, with tips on promoting healthy digital habits, recognizing concerning patterns, and supporting positive mental health. Helps parents understand online influences on mental health and offers ideas for balancing screen time with activities that nurture resilience and connection. - 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Immediate support for children, teens, or families experiencing emotional distress or mental health crises. Available 24/7 by call or text.
If you have questions about how screen use may be affecting your child’s sleep, mood, learning, or emotional health, our pediatric team is always available to help guide next steps and connect you with additional support.
