Available for free download at

autismteachingstrategies.com
A note from
the author
I care very deeply about the issue of leisure screen use in
children and teens.
For that reason, I am making The Screen Lover’s Help Book and the Adult
Facilitator’s Guide available for free distribution from my website. You have my
permission to print them. When sharing these materials with others, do not
host it on your own website or email them. Instead, please share the links to
my website.

Links to download
The Screen Lover’s Help Book &
Adult Facilitator’s Guide:

*Link to access download of the pdf of

The Screen Lover’s Help Book

*Link to access download of pdf of

The Adult Facilitator’s Guide

*Link to access The Screen Lover’s Help Book

on ISSUU
[page-turning format, good for reading on computer or tablet]

Joel Shaul
©2021 Joel Shaul
Autism Teaching Strategies
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Books by the same author

(Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London & Philadelphia):

Your Interests, My Interests –

A Visual Guide to Playing and Hanging Out for Children
on the Autism Spectrum
978 1 78592 650 1 eISBN 978 1 78592 866 6

The ASD Feel Better Book -

A Visual Guide to Help Brain and Body for
Children on the Autism Spectrum
ISBN 978 1 78592 762 1 eISBN 978 1 78450 627 8

The ASD and Me Picture Book -

A Visual Guide to Understanding Challenges and
Strengths for Children on the Autism Spectrum
ISBN 978 1 78592 723 2 eISBN 978 1 78450 351 2

Our Brains Are Like Computers!

Exploring Social Skills and Social Cause and
Effect with Children on the Autism Spectrum
ISBN 978 1 84905 716 5 eISBN 978 1 78450 208 9

The Green Zone Conversation Book -

Finding Common Ground in Conversation
for Children on the Autism Spectrum
ISBN 978 1 84905 759 2 eISBN 978 0 85700 946 3

The Conversation Train -

A Visual Approach to Conversation for
Children on the Autism Spectrum
ISBN 978 1 84905 986 2 eISBN 978 0 85700 900 5
 Contents
{click to access page}

Introduction for Adults 6

Chapter 1: The screens we love 9

Great experiences with screens checklist 12

Screen time measuring worksheet 1 15
Screen time measuring worksheet 2 16
Screen device preference checklist 17
Levels of liking screen devices checklist 18
Screen device drawing / writing sheets 19

Chapter 2: What is the right amount of screen time? 23

Chapter 3: How screen time can get too big 33

Checklist – What you or others have noticed about

your screen use 39

Chapter 4: Like, love, addiction 41

Like/Love/Addicted exploration worksheet 46

Like/Love/Addicted exploration worksheet, adult copy 47

Chapter 5: Accepting help 51

People who might help in different ways worksheet 55

Chapter 6: Imagining a different balance between

screens and no screens 61

Current screen use time circle worksheet 67

Chapter 7: When change is hard 71

Difficult thoughts worksheets 74

Recharging your batteries worksheet 77
Alternative activities checklists 78

Chapter 8: Planning a different kind of future with 81

screens

Packing for the future worksheets 82

Future time circle worksheet 84
Future screen time measuring worksheets 85
Future viewer drawing / writing sheets 87
 Introduction for Adults

Nearly all children and teens have a strong interest in computers,

tablets, phones and video games. Many of them develop patterns of
overuse ranging from dependence to addiction. Monitoring and
guiding these young people in their screen activities is a vital role for
parents and professionals. However, adults trying to develop rules
and boundaries for electronic devices can be viewed as adversaries
by youngsters who are desperate to watch the next video or reach
the next game level.

No one can blame young people for wanting to fill their leisure time
with entertainment and diversion. Grown-ups have always had to
help young people to learn good ways to play and avoid harmful
play. The screen-based entertainment currently available to our
youth gives today’s teachers, child professionals and parents a
daunting set of challenges. Many of these games, videos, activities
and apps are carefully designed to be extremely hard to put down.
Once hooked, young people can almost never manage the craving
on their own. We must engage our children, students and clients in
efforts to regulate screen attachment.

The Screen Lovers Help Book is designed to help children age 7 to 14

to work with teachers, therapists or parents to explore screen
activities and their effects. Designed to be read with an adult, the
book’s self-assessment exercises and worksheets guide readers
through an examination of problematic use of screen devices and
lead them to achieve a functional balance between electronic
screens and the unplugged world beyond.

Joel Shaul
6
 Chapter 1:

The Screens
We Love

9
 Screens are
amazing.

They teach us
so much.

They help us have

so many
good times.

10
We all have screen devices that are our own
special favorites.
Which of these are most important to you?

11
Here are some examples of great
experiences people might have with their
phone, tablet, computer, TV or video games.
Have you had experiences like these? Check
the boxes for the ones you can relate to.
Using a new game or game system In my home or school, I share my
was one of my life’s great special knowledge about computers,
experiences. games or electronics.

With a friend, I had such a great time With my school computer or tablet, I
playing a game that I will never forget am able to learn in special ways.
it.

I learned how to make or do On a holiday or special occasion, I

something amazing by learning about had a wonderful time with a screen
it online. device.

I often use my phone or social media I became much closer to a parent or

to talk about or plan face to face other relative through the good times
activities we had gaming together.

There are certain movies and videos When I got my first phone, it was
that are not just fun, but also deeply one of the best things that I can
meaningful to me. remember.

Online, I learned useful information I got a screen device or a game as a

to help solve a personal problem. present and it was the best present
ever.

Online, I helped other people learn My VR headset has opened up new

important and interesting things worlds to me. I feel like my life will
about me. never be the same.

One of my earliest and sweetest There is someone I met online who I

memories is about using a screen have made a very special connection
device. with.

12 ©2021 Joel Shaul

 When we love something,
we want to do it a lot.

Some people love screens and electronics

very, very much. What about you?

13
Think about a day
when you are not in Morning

school, like a Saturday.

Afternoon
How much time do you
spend with the screens
you love in the
Evening
morning, afternoon,
and evening?
Saturday

Morning
Now, think about a
school day.
Afternoon
How much time do you
spend with the screens
Evening
you love in the
morning, afternoon,
and evening?
School Day
14
Screen Time Measuring This worksheet and the one on the next
page help show the special ways you enjoy
Worksheet: screen devices. Complete both worksheets
What you did on a school day. and then discuss them with the adult who is
helping you.

circle what you were doing brief description

NO
7-9 am SCREEN

NO
9-11 am SCREEN

NO
11-1 pm SCREEN

NO
1-3 pm SCREEN

NO
3-6 pm SCREEN

NO
6-9 pm SCREEN

NO
9-11 pm SCREEN

11 pm NO
and SCREEN
later

15 ©2021 Joel Shaul

Screen Time Measuring Worksheet:
What you did on a Saturday or a typical summer day.

circle what you were doing brief description

NO
7-9 am SCREEN

NO
9-11 am SCREEN

NO
11-1 pm SCREEN

NO
1-3 pm SCREEN

NO
3-6 pm SCREEN

NO
6-9 pm SCREEN

NO
9-11 pm SCREEN

11 pm NO
and SCREEN
later

16 ©2021 Joel Shaul

People like different screen devices
at different levels. Let’s find out
about you. Look at the five different
screen devices on the left. On the top,
see the different levels of liking
something. Put a check mark in the
right box for each screen device to
show how much you like it.

I LOVE IT A HUGE
I DON’T LIKE IT I LIKE IT I LOVE IT! AMOUNT!

17 ©2021 Joel Shaul

 Draw or write in the screens on the next
three pages, to show what screen activities
you love the most.

Something terrific to watch on TV

Your favorite video game

18 ©2021 Joel Shaul
Your favorite tablet activity

What you most

enjoy doing on a
phone

19 ©2021 Joel Shaul

A favorite activity on a
computer or laptop

Another great
computer activity
20 ©2021 Joel Shaul
The screens in our lives can help us and
make us feel good in hundreds of ways.

It’s not surprising that many of us use

our phones, computers, tablets and
video games as much as we can.

21
 Chapter 2:

What is the right amount of

screen time?

23
 When we like doing something,
we like to do it often.

Many of us really
like our screen
devices.

So, we use
them as much
as possible.

24
Using the screen devices can make us feel better
and better. But then something unexpected
happens. Little by little, our love for them can
start to affect other parts of our lives.

25
There is something
about screens that can
make many people get
too stuck on their
computers, tablets,
phones, games and
TV’s.

Screens are so interesting, and so hard to

stop looking at, that other things in life
can start to seem dull in comparison.

Everyone must somehow find a better

balance between their screen life and
their non-screen life.

On the next four pages are many

examples of people who have lost the
balance between screen activities and
non-screen activities.

26
Jon plays on his
tablet for five hours
but when his father
finally makes him
stop, he feels
terrible!

When Jack thinks about his life and all

his happiest memories, it makes him
sad sometimes since it all seems to be
about screens. “Is that all there is to
my life?”, he thinks.

Maria tries and tries to focus on her

homework. But her mind can’t stop
thinking about her games and TV shows
and everything else on her screens.

Alan gets a call from his best

friend who wants to go fly a
kite. Alan says no. There is a
new game update today on
Alan’s favorite game and he
can’t think of anything else.

27
 Little by little, Andrea got
bored with the whole idea
of playing with kids. She
now prefers to stay inside
near a good, strong wi-fi
signal.

Kyle cannot stand being out of touch

with friends, even for a short time.
His need to constantly keep track of
people on social media has taken
over his life.

!!
Mike is so excited about his favorite video
game that he has a hard time talking
about anything else.

When the Wi-Fi goes out for two

days at Janelle’s house, it feels like
almost the worst thing that ever
happened to her.

28
James cares a
lot about the
world of his
movies. But he
has stopped
caring about
picking up his
things or
bathing and
his family is
disgusted.

Anthony is just a kid who plays video

games, but lately he is feeling really
sure he will be a famous YouTube star.

Mark’s online game character

is smart, handsome and
powerful. But in real life,
Mark does not really like
himself all that much.

Elise hears all kinds of

bad words online. She
ends up saying a lot of
the same bad words
now, even though that is
against the rules.

29
 Sarah still thinks
about the lovely
pottery she used to
make. But more
and more she just
thinks about
getting higher
game scores.

Jeremy never got in

much trouble much
before he got his phone.
But lately his bad
decisions on using the
phone are getting him in
trouble with his school –
and even the police.

Frank has always felt a little

nervous around people. Lately, he
depends on his phone all the time
when other people are nearby. He
finds it so hard to even look up
from his phone sometimes when
people are around.

Isaiah was warned to not to

look at websites that are just
for grown-ups. But even when
he tries hard to stop, he keeps
going back to look over and
over.

30
Before going on in the book, look again at
the examples from the previous four
pages.

Which of these examples help your

understanding of the way screen devices
fit into your own life?

31
 Chapter 3:

How screen love can

get too big

33
To understand how
screen love gets too big,
it is helpful to
understand the
different ways that this
can happen to people.

As you read them, think about whether

any of these examples help you to
understand your own
relationship with screens.

Are any of these people like you

in any way?

34
Are you like any of these people, in any way?

Josh Ellie

Josh’s favorite video game is Ellie loves her friends and

amazing, and with each new being in touch with them
update it only gets better. It through text and social
is becoming painful for Josh media. The problem is
to be away from the game that it has become hard
for very long, and when it is for her to be out of online
time to stop playing it, he contact with them during
gets really grouchy. a meal, a sporting event, or
even a night’s sleep.

Anita David

Anita has a special interest Being around people in

that few kids her age know person is challenging for
anything about. That’s David. The noises and
frustrating for Anita. But she crowding of public places
has found an online are hard for him to deal
community of people who with. Also, other people
love her same interest. seem to like things David
Anita feels so strongly doesn’t care about. But
connected with them that online adventure games are
she has been avoiding wonderful for David, and he
boring “face to face” people. can’t get enough of them.
35
 What about these people?
Are you like any of them, in any way?
Jim Jake

.
Jim has always had lots of Once Jake started looking at
energy. Unfortunately, his certain online videos meant
family lives in a crowded only for adults, he soon found
neighborhood where there is he just had to watch them over
no safe place for kids to hang and over. When his dad took
out. The video games he plays away his phone, Jakes found
make him feel less hyper for a another way to see the videos,
while. Without these games, even when he wanted to stop.
Jim often feels very restless
and unhappy.

Maria Ann

There are many things that Ann’s life is hard in many

make Maria feel anxious. She ways. She is starting to adjust
feels desperate to find ways to to the wheelchair. But her
relax. Certain games and parents arguing, and then
videos seemed to really make their divorce, make her feel so
the worries go away for a sad. The more stressed she
while. But now she depends feels, the more she is on her
on her screens to relax, and computer, often all day and
she gets panicky when she is half the night, trying to forget
away from them too long. her troubles.

36
Sometimes, a person can start to notice on their own
that they have a problem. Here are some examples of
people who began to notice important things about
their screen use. Which of these people is a little
bit like you?

Frank looked in his middle

school yearbook at the
interesting things many of his
friends had done in the past
year in after-school clubs. He
decides he might try an after-
school club next year, even Janine visits a fascinating
though that would really cut website where gamers share
down on his time on the ideas about how they
computer at home. sometimes get bored,
frustrated and lonely when
they do gaming too long. She
starts to think about some
problems with the way she is
affected by video games.
For a school project, Emma is
reading a story about people
a hundred years ago, and it
makes her curious. If
someone wrote a story about
her, what would the story be
like? Would the story just
describe a girl lying in bed
watching videos? Emma
begins to think about her own
life as a story that needs a
new and better chapter.
37
At other times, a person does not know about
their problem until another person points it
out. Are you like any of these people?

Leah’s counselor had a

talk with Leah and her
dad. He pointed out how
both of them spend way
too much time on their
screen devices and that Joseph and his family enjoy
this is hurting their good food and lots of video
relationship. gaming. At the doctor, Joseph
gets scary news about his
health, weight and his lack of
exercise. Joseph and his
parents have a serious
discussion on the way home.

Brian’s family ran into

problems when Dad hurt his
back and can’t work or even
help much at home. Mom tells
Brian he is being selfish
playing on his computer all
day and she needs help with
taking care of their home and Madison’s teachers have
their farm. always said she was smart.
But Madison’s grades are
dropping ever since she got
her new first phone.
Madison’s teacher arranges a
meeting with Madison and
her dad to talk about it.
38
So, people learn about problems by noticing these
problems on their own and by having other people help
them to notice them. What issues have you begun to
notice about your own use of screen devices?
What concerns have other people noticed?

Below, put a check next to the problems that you might

possibly have.

I feel bored and lonely sometimes Someone told me that I don’t do

when using my computer, tablet, schoolwork well because I am on my
phone or video games. screen devices too much.

When I try to cut down on screen Someone told me I get lazy, rude or
time sometimes, it is really, really grouchy because I am gaming and on
hard. the computer so much.

I miss some of the things I used to Someone told me I lose sleep from
do before I was using the screens so using screen devices too late at night.
much.

I might be getting out of shape or Someone told me I talk about my

unhealthy from sitting down so much favorite game, show, video or website
with my screen devices. too much.

When I think about my favorite Someone told me I was neglecting

experiences in recent months, they people in my family because of my
mostly involve screen devices. screen devices.

I got in some trouble because of Someone told me I talk impolitely

something that I wrote or shared on and say bad words like some people
social media. do in online videos.

I feel very tempted sometimes to Someone told me I am neglecting

use computers at my school to do other people’s needs by being so
things that are not allowed. devoted to my screen devices.

A loss or disappointment in a video Anything else?

game can affect me even more than
something in real life.

39 ©2021 Joel Shaul

 Chapter 4:

Like, love, addiction

41
Liking, loving and addiction are three
different levels of wanting pleasure from
something.

The first two levels, liking and loving, are

pretty easy to understand.

What are some things you

like?
(Foods, drinks, music,
people, activities.)

What are some things you

love?
(Foods, drinks, music,
people, activities.)

42
Addiction is trickier to
understand.

Addiction means that you

like something too much
for your own good.

Addiction is harmful
because it is so hard to
stop doing the thing you
want so badly. Addiction
can keep you from doing
other things that are
necessary and enjoyable.

We often hear
about kinds of
addiction that
happen to
grownups.

43
 Having addiction does
not make a person bad.
It happens to all kinds
of nice people. It can
even happen to kids like
you. There are many
kinds of addiction. For
example, kids can get
addicted to eating too
much and too often.

Probably the most

common addiction
affecting kids is screen
addiction. It can
happen quickly or else
sneak up on a kid
over months or years.

44
Here come some hard questions.
You will probably need a trusted grownup
with you while trying to answer them.

For each of the

screen devices
below, do you
like it, or love
it, or are you
addicted to it? LIKE IT LOVE IT ADDICTED

45
 Like / Love / Addicted Exploration Worksheet
For each of the screen devices shown on the left, circle whether you like it,
love it or feel addicted to it.

Then, write down in the middle spaces what your most important activity is
with that screen device.

The adult with you will fill out the next page, which looks like this page.

Write down what is your main Please circle

activity on this device. Like, Love or Addicted

Like Love Addicted

Like Love Addicted

Like Love Addicted

Like Love Addicted

Like Love Addicted

Like Love Addicted

46 ©2021 Joel Shaul

 Like / Love / Addicted Exploration Worksheet
Adult Copy
This is just like the previous page, but this one the adult fills out about you.
When you have both finished filling out these two sheets, you can compare
and discuss what you wrote down.

Write down what is your main Please circle

activity on this device. Like, Love or Addicted

Like Love Addicted

Like Love Addicted

Like Love Addicted

Like Love Addicted

Like Love Addicted

Like Love Addicted

47 ©2021 Joel Shaul

You have made
it pretty far in a
very challenging
book.
Like
yourself
for that.

You have
started to learn
important
things about
yourself.
Love
yourself
for that.

48 ©2021 Joel Shaul

You may now be ready to go on to
an even higher level of learning.

49
 Chapter 5:

Accepting help

51
 People who have
developed very strong
screen-using habits –
whether they are
adults or kids –
usually find these
habits hard to bring
under control.

That is why people

must accept help
from others when
they are doing this
difficult and
important work.

52
There are different kinds of people
who can offer help when you are trying
to break tough habits. Each kind of
helping person is different. Which ones
will be most important for you?

Parent or Counselor,
guardian therapist, teacher

Family and
relatives

Friends.

(This is tricky because

some of your friends
might have their own
problems with
screen devices.)
53
The people who assist you during this
challenging time can help you in these
different ways.

Give advice
about my
problem

Help keep me away

from screen activities
I need to decrease

Set important rules

and help me
follow them

54
 People who might help, in different ways
Look over the different kinds of helpers and the ways they might help.
Write down the names of some people in each category who might help.
Put check marks in different boxes to show what ways each kind of helper might be useful.

Parent / guardian Counselor / teacher / therapist Family / relatives Friends

Names: Names: Names: Names:
___________ ___________ ___________ ___________
___________ ___________ ___________ ___________
___________ ___________ ___________ ___________

Give
advice
about my
problem

Set
important
rules and
help me
follow
them

Help me
with
upsetting
feelings

Help keep me
away from
screen
activities I
need to
decrease
or stop

Help me
have fun
when I
need it

55 ©2021 Joel Shaul

Dealing with negative thoughts towards
the people helping you

When you begin to change the way you use

your screen devices, you will have all kinds
of different feelings. Many of them will be
good. You will feel proud of yourself. At
times you may feel like you are going on a
sort of adventure.

Of course, at other times you will also feel

stress, especially at first. Sometimes, this
might make you feel frustrated or even
angry at the people who are helping you.

On the next page are some angry thoughts

you should get ready for, and some
suggestions on how to deal with these
thoughts. On the page after that are some
suggestions on ways to talk with the person
who is trying to help you.

56
Negative Thoughts I
thoughts might use to
I might have fight the
towards someone negative
helping me thoughts

They don’t know They care about you

what I’m going and want
through! the best for you.

Part of a
grownups’
All they want to do is
job is to supervise
just control me!
the young. It’s not just
being mean.

People who stick

They say I will feel with cutting down on
better eventually. screens are nearly always
That’s a lie! glad about it later.

How long have

My friends online they been my friends?
are my real friends What have they really
– not this grownup! done for me?

What is another
negative thought I What can I do to
am getting? fight it?

57
Useful words when I am building cooperation
with the people helping me
Words like this don’t help. Words like this DO help.

Give that thing back to me When I don’t have my

NOW!!! phone/game/computer, it
really hurts sometimes.

I hate you! I am feeling really angry.

I am so bored, restless and I am so bored, restless and

lonely now – all because lonely. What can I do?
of you!

I am NOT sorry. Sorry.

58
 Chapter 6:

Imagining a different balance

between screens and no screens

61
Humans are not born wanting screen devices.

We all start
out like this…

…but then this

often happens…

…and finally,
this.

62
Probably, you are reading
this book because
someone who
cares about you …and that this
believes this side side needs to
has gotten too big… get bigger.

63
People often think that their love for screens
and the way they use screens will always stay
the same.

Forever.

I’m a gamer, big

time! Seven hours
on Saturdays.
That’s me! Jeff

All week, I look forward

to watching YouTube
the whole weekend.
Ain’t gonna change.

Sam

My many, many
friends online rely on
me to keep track of
them. Been that way,
going to stay that way.
Amy

64
But actually, people do often change the way
they use their screen devices. They learn new
ways to think and behave.

Sometimes this just seems to happen on its own.

First, my phone broke.
Before I got a new one, I met
FIRST a new friend who is into LATER
bikes. Summer came. I am
outside a lot now.

Sam

Other times it happens because of a problem

related to screen use, and a lot of hard work.
My sad and angry feelings were
worse on days I did gaming
more than five hours. My
FIRST counselor pointed that out. LATER
Cutting down has been tough
but my anger problem is better.

Jake

65
 To help you begin
to imagine a
different balance
between screen-
and non-screen
activities, go back
to the worksheet
you completed
on page 16. This
is the worksheet
that counted up
your daily hours
of screen
activities on a
Saturday or some
other free day.

Next, using the empty circle on the next page,

draw lines to show the amount of time you
spent that day using screen devices compared
to other activities.

66 ©2021 Joel Shaul

©2021 Joel Shaul
Different people’s time circle pictures come
out differently, like this.

TV
video
games Video
games

How did your own time circle picture come out?

When you look at it, do you see any problem?

If you were a grown-up taking care of you, what would

you think?

Discuss your findings with the adult who is helping you.

What does the adult think?
68
 Chapter 7:

When change is hard

71
Many people have certain thoughts,
feelings and difficult situations that can
make it especially hard to change the way
they use screens.

We should not ignore these special

challenges.

It’s best to face them honestly, and to talk

about possible solutions with the adult
who is helping you.
72
Look over the problems on the next page.

Which of these problems do you have

yourself?

What are some possible solutions?

On the opposite page, write down some

possible solutions in the empty thought
bubbles. Or just talk about them with the
adult who is helping you.

73
 Some difficult thoughts

I feel I don’t have enough talent I feel that my friendships

or ability to learn new activities with people online are just as
that would be interesting and important as face-to-face
fun enough for me. friendships, and I can’t imagine
spending less time with them.

Lots of face-to-face social I will never be able to keep

activities make me anxious – up with what other people are
even thinking about them can doing if I am not texting or on
make me nervous. social media for many
hours a day.

Most of my friends seem to Adults don’t understand

use screen devices during how my future plans depend on
most of their free time, just my gaming. Lots of people earn
like me. good money by becoming game
inventors and YouTube stars, and I
could become one of them.

Playing video games might

be more important to me than
anything else I do. The quality In my home, other people
of my life will go way down if I are on screens most of the
play games less. time – not just me.

Any other difficult thought?

74 ©2021 Joel Shaul

What are some thoughts that might help?

75 ©2021 Joel Shaul

Lots of people are so used to
using screens that they have
forgotten about many of the
other things in life that are fun
and satisfying.

76
It really helps to think
about other ways for your
brain to “recharge.”
People who are very used
to using screen activities to
feel good often forget about
other ways to feel happy
and relaxed.
Maybe you have already started to get some ideas about
how you can recharge yourself and feel good, even without
so much screen time. What are a few things you have
begun to consider? Write these ideas down on
the lines below.

_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
77 ©2021 Joel Shaul
When you start to really think about it, there are
dozens – hundreds – of things to do that have
little to do with screens.

On this page and the next, put checks in the boxes

for activities that you could imagine yourself
doing more.

TALK TO AN TALK TO A BUILD READ

ADULT BROTHER OR SOMETHING
SISTER

DO ART PUZZLE OR LISTEN TO PLAY AN

GAME MUSIC INSTRUMENT

SING DANCE HELP DO A

SOMEONE IN CHORE
YOUR HOME

78 ©2021 Joel Shaul

DO NOTHING PLAY WITH MAKE PLANS BOARD
AND JUST A PET WITH GAME
THINK SOMEONE

CARD COOK ACTION PRETEND

GAME FIGURES

TOYS FIX COLLECT WRITE A

SOMETHING SOMETHING STORY OR A
JOURNAL

WALK RUN BICYCLE SWIM

BALL OTHER YOUTH WHAT

SPORT SPORT CLUB ELSE?

79 ©2021 Joel Shaul

 Chapter 8:

Planning a different kind of

future with screens

81
Packing for a future with fewer screens.
Planning for a future with reduced
screens is something like packing for
an airplane trip. When you pack for a
trip, there are some things that you can
take along with you in your luggage and
other things you have to leave behind.

Imagine that on this trip you have to cut down your

screen activities by half. Inside the suitcase below,
write down what screen activities you will take with
you. Then, on the next page, write down what things
you would leave behind.

82 ©2021 Joel Shaul

Imaginary trip to
the future with
fewer screens.
Imagine that this is a shelf where you
have left some screen activities that you
would not take on your trip to
the future.

83 ©2021 Joel Shaul

In the future you have imagined, how did you decide
what to leave behind, and what to bring along?

Now, create a new time circle picture, showing this

future you have imagined in which screen activities
take up less of your time.

On the next two pages, write out a schedule of what

these two days might be like, on a school day
and a Saturday.
84 ©2021 Joel Shaul
Screen Time Measuring Complete both worksheets and then discuss
them with the adult who is helping you.
Worksheet: School Day
A future day with less screen
time

circle what you were doing brief description

NO
7-9 am SCREEN

NO
9-11 am SCREEN

NO
11-1 pm SCREEN

NO
1-3 pm SCREEN

NO
3-6 pm SCREEN

NO
6-9 pm SCREEN

NO
9-11 pm SCREEN

11 pm NO
and SCREEN
later

85 ©2021 Joel Shaul

Screen Time Measuring Worksheet:
What you might do on a day in the future with less screen
time – Saturday or a summer day.

circle what you were doing brief description

NO
7-9 am SCREEN

NO
9-11 am SCREEN

NO
11-1 pm SCREEN

NO
1-3 pm SCREEN

NO
3-6 pm SCREEN

NO
6-9 pm SCREEN

NO
9-11 pm SCREEN

11 pm NO
and SCREEN
later

86 ©2021 Joel Shaul

Now that you have begun to explore some ways
to stay busy and happy without as much screen
time, try planning some days in the future in
more detail.

Suppose there was a Future Viewer that allowed

you to see a day in the future in which screen
activities are still there but less important. On
this page and the next page, draw or write what
might happen on that day, in different situations.

87 ©2021 Joel Shaul

88 ©2021 Joel Shaul
We all love screens.
We will still love
them in the future.

People who find even

more things to love
have much
happier lives.

You will too.

89