It’s not easy to talk with teens about their relationship with screens.【小题1】

Open with a discussion of young children’s tech use

Rather than asking teens to put down iPads, introduce a discussion on babies’ tech use.【小题2】When I had my eighth graders read an article about banning iPads for children under two, the class were interested.

Admit your tech problems

One of my students wrote that she would like to prevent the whole family from using tech facilities. Clearly, someone in her home was having some tech use problems.【小题3】We can’t tell kids to put down their devices if we continue to use them.

Keep a balanced opinion

We adults wouldn’t be able to live in today’s society without screens, so we shouldn’t expect teenagers to do so either.【小题4】It’s improved our lives in many ways. Before we start talking about its challenges, we need to realize its opportunities, too.

Deal with the topic like you would nutrition (营养)

If children weren’t making good food choices, we would never take their lunches away and make them stay hungry. We would teach them how to eat healthy and help them learn to set new habits:【小题5】Instead of taking their devices away, we should help them keep a balance with technology.

A．The same should go for technology.

B．Technology isn’t a bad habit to be got out of.

C．This will invite teens to talk about the subject.

D．Teens need face-to-face communication with adults.

E．One of teens’ fears is that we’ll take their devices away.

F．So we need to be open about our own tech habits as well.

G．Here are a few ways that will make the discussion easier and more productive.