Side by Side, Screens Aside
When was the last time you had a real conversation with a young person in your life? Not “How was school?” “Fine.” An actual conversation where you both forgot your phones existed.
If it’s been a while, you’re not alone. Screens fill a lot of our days, for kids and grown-ups alike. But research keeps pointing to a few simple, free ways to help young people feel better: less screen time, more time outside and more time with each other.
In one study, families agreed to hand over their phones and tablets for just two weeks. Parents included. By the end, kids had fewer emotional struggles, got along better with their peers and were kinder and more helpful to others. Another new study followed nearly a million young people in New Zealand over six years and found that living near nature, especially a mix of green spaces like parks and blue spaces like lakes and rivers, was linked to better mental health over time.
None of this means screens are the enemy. Kids just need balance, and the adults around them can help create it. With the holidays coming, here are five easy ways to start:
Make a screen-free zone. The dinner table, the car or the first 30 minutes after school all work. Put your phone away too. Kids notice.
Go outside together, even briefly. A walk around the block or sitting on the porch counts. Side by side, whether outdoors or in the car, conversation often flows more easily than face to face.
Plan one-on-one time. Even 15 minutes of undivided attention tells a kid they matter.
Let them lead. Ask about their favorite song, game or friend, and then really listen.
Keep a conversation starter handy. Sometimes the hardest part is knowing what to say. That’s exactly why we created Growing Sideways, a conversation card game for kids ages 10 to 13 and the trusted adults in their lives. The cards do the asking, so you can just enjoy the conversation. It also makes a great holiday gift. eyesopeniowa.org/growing-sideways
The best moments with kids are rarely planned or expensive. They happen when we slow down, look up and make room for them. So this week, set the screens aside, sit side by side and see where the conversation goes.
Sources: Schmidt-Persson et al., “Screen Media Use and Mental Health of Children and Adolescents: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial,” JAMA Network Open (2024); Marek et al., “Interconnected environments and the mental health of young people in Aotearoa New Zealand,” Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology (2026), via University of Canterbury, October 12, 2026.