--- title: Kids need more/less time online [delete as appropriate] description: "Here are two headlines from this morning’s Guardian (other news outlets are available): “Stop children bingeing on social media during holidays, parents urged” “Encourage children to spend more time online, says former GCHQ head” Both are equally interesting stories, and both worth a read. But which one is right? On the face of it, they […] Share this post: Print Tweet WhatsApp More Telegram Share on Tumblr Pocket" --- Broadband and so much more: [ Get Connected with LGfL > ](https://lgfl.net/smartbuy/broadband) ## Safeguarding Blog [Safeguarding Blog](https://safeblog.lgfl.net) [Curriculum Blog](https://curriculumblog.lgfl.net) # Kids need more/less time online [delete as appropriate] [ Admin ](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/author/admin) Aug 8, 2017 10:01:51 PM ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/online-good-bad-signpost-Mar-29-2022-03-12-05-95-PM.jpg?width=450&height=325&name=online-good-bad-signpost-Mar-29-2022-03-12-05-95-PM.jpg)Here are two headlines from this morning’s Guardian (other news outlets are available): [“Stop children bingeing on social media during holidays, parents urged”](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/aug/05/children-bingeing-social-media-anne-longfield-childrens-commissioner) [“Encourage children to spend more time online, says former GCHQ head”](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/aug/08/encourage-children-to-spend-more-time-online-says-former-gchq-head) Both are equally interesting stories, and both worth a read. But which one is right? On the face of it, they sum up neatly the conundrum that parents face and how difficult it is to boil down advice into a pithy instruction. What are we supposed to do? Cut back or encourage? Screentime – good or bad? As so often, the headlines don’t tell the whole story. I reckon that if you put Anne Longfield and Robert Hannigan in a room together (the Children’s Commissioner and former GCHQ boss, respectively), they would be in broad agreement about many issues. Anne Longfield’s excellent new ‘[Digital 5 A Day](https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/2017/08/06/digital-5-a-day/)‘ isn’t all about digital detox, albeit the ability to put down your device is a key health factor and very much part of the equation. But 1/5 of the digi-pie, she says, is to spend time online to ‘get creative’. This year, we at LGfL DigiSafe plan to look at new ways to support young people who feel they have to be ‘always on’. There is definitely scope to improve education and resource in this area. But how about that ‘get creative’ pie slice? Let’s encourage the potential young people have to make the most of the devices and apps at their disposal to make music, videos, augmented and virtual reality scenes, plays, artwork, stories, blogs, vlogs, games, podcasts, and the like, or learn about the languages, sports and countryside just before they put down the pad and head out to enjoy them in the flesh. Perhaps we can have our digi-pie and eat it… ### Share this post: - [Print](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/2017/08/kids-need-moreless-time-online-delete-as-appropriate/) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) - [WhatsApp](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/2017/08/kids-need-moreless-time-online-delete-as-appropriate/?share=jetpack-whatsapp) - [![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/pinit_fg_en_rect_gray_20-Mar-29-2022-03-16-08-01-PM.png)](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsafeblog.lgfl.net%2F2017%2F08%2Fkids-need-moreless-time-online-delete-as-appropriate%2F&media=http%3A%2F%2Fsafeblog.lgfl.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F08%2Fonline-good-bad-signpost.jpg&description=Kids%20need%20more%2Fless%20time%20online%20%5Bdelete%20as%20appropriate%5D) - [More](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/2017/08/kids-need-moreless-time-online-delete-as-appropriate#) - [Telegram](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/2017/08/kids-need-moreless-time-online-delete-as-appropriate/?share=telegram) - [Share on Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/share) - [Pocket](https://getpocket.com/save) [safeguarding: online & beyond](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/tag/safeguarding-online-beyond) ### Subscribe to our blog Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts. ## Read On ### [Supporting children after the London Bridge attack The London Bridge attack will leave many adults worried about their safety, so how can schools and...](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/2019/12/supporting-children-after-the-london-bridge-attack) ### [Parents keep your children safe online and on devices and games this Christmas Below are the links from our Facebook Live session for parents on 16/12/2019 to help parents keep...](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/2019/12/parents-keep-your-children-safe-online-and-on-devices-and-games-this-christmas) ### [Letter to parents about being a good friend and staying safe online In response to requests from schools, here is a letter template you can use or adapt to send to...](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/2020/06/letter-to-parents-about-being-a-good-friend-and-staying-safe-online)