From conflict to connection: New program helps Aussie families master screens safely 

With more than seventy per cent of Australian children exposed to harmful online content and screen-related stress on the rise, Triple P’s groundbreaking free program, Triple P Online: Children and Screens, has launched with the commencement of the school holidays, arming parents and carers with proven-to-work strategies against digital dangers while building a generation of healthy, happy kids. 

• Show an interest in your child’s screen use. Talk with your child or watch what they’re doing while they’re engaged in an online activity. Show them you’re interested by asking about the rules of the game, what programs they are enjoying, or which friends they are interacting with.  

• Check content is appropriate. Take some time to have conversations with your child about the content they’re accessing online. Keep it relaxed and try to avoid interrogating them with too many questions. Praise them when they make good choices and reassure them that you’re always there to help if they are confused, worried or upset by anything they experience online.  

• Set a screen time schedule. As a family, plan daily or weekly routines for screen use to provide variety and predictability. For a healthy balance, replace some of the time you would normally spend on a device with something else like a creative pursuit, physical activity or time outside so your child can engage their brain in different and new ways.