Digital Well-being

Building Healthy Habits Around Media Together (Activity Book)

Just like family dinners or trips to the supermarket, digital media is part of everyday life—and with it come new questions and choices about how your family uses technology. In today’s fast-changing world, there are always fresh ways to connect, play, learn, and relax—on screens and off.

This downloadable guide offers tips and strategies for parents, mini-activities for children, and helpful links to online resources. Use it together to spark conversations, nurture curiosity, and support your family’s digital well-being through healthy, balanced media habits.

C is for Choices (Interactive Game)

Help children build awareness of the concept of making choices by playing this game in which Abby’s mommy, Maggie, presents her with choices about what to wear, eat, and play. Abby also makes decisions about what kind of art to make and how to move her body. And she has choices about whether she plays alone or with her mommy and how to transition from one activity to the next.

In the game, children help Abby think through her choices and enjoy the outcome of each.

Noticing & Choosing (Printable)

Print this page and share with your child. Read it aloud and talk about the three steps Elmo takes to transition away from his math game on screen when his timer goes off. Invite your child to choose what Elmo and his Daddy might do next.

Next time your child’s screen time is over, have fun thinking of ways to extend the fun in different ways. How can you “take it off the screen” and have more fun together?

Making Connections (Video)

Together with children, watch this video in which Rosita has a video chat with her extended family in Mexico and shares special moments and memories with her Abuela, uncle, and cousins. This helps her stay connected to her family’s culture and language and builds her sense of belonging!

Switch It! Routine (Video)

A familiar routine can help, like the one in this video in which Julia, Sam, and their dad, Daniel, practice their family’s Switch It! strategy. Watch the video together with your child and then read through the steps below. Practice them together. Adding motions — clapping your hands or stomping your feet, giving a big stretch, and a little jump when it’s time to switch — can make these steps really stick!

We’re Connected (Documentary)

For most families, media and technology have become a part of daily life in one way or another. ​In this video, we meet the Hosseinabad and Sanchez families and see how they are finding ways to stay connected as a family… online and off!

As you watch, consider how your family uses media and technology. What’s working well? What would you like to change or do differently​ to help kids develop healthy tech habits and digital well-being​? Remember that creating routines that support your family’s well-being takes time and practice. Take it one step at a time!

Growth Mindset (Article)

Media, technology — and your family! — are changing every day. As your family’s needs, challenges, hopes, and dreams evolve, your media use and family rules around technology may need to evolve, too.

AI & Us! (Animation)

Technology keeps changing, and that can be tricky for families to navigate. Julia’s family helps explain big ideas—like AI—in simple, playful ways. Share this video with your child, where Julia’s family use AI to spark creativity, support interests, and encourage working together. Staying curious is a great way to support your family’s digital well-being.

Habits for Family well-Being in a Digital Age (Course)

This online course equips providers to support families and young children with digital well-being strategies and engaging content to foster safe, connected, and enriching media experiences—both online and offline!

 

For more resources visit Sesame Street in Communities Digital Well-being webpage.