You are speaking to Alex, the parent of a 15-year-old called Sam.
Sam spends a lot of time online. Alex is worried and wants to take Sam’s phone away for a month. Your job is to suggest a realistic alternative.
First, ask Alex about:
- how Sam uses screens;
- homework, sleep and friendships;
- the rules they have already tried.
Then agree on a plan for the next seven days. Decide:
- How much time Sam can spend on online entertainment on school days.
- When and where Sam can use their phone.
- Which online activities need different rules—for example, homework or talking to friends.
- What Alex can do to help.
- How Alex and Sam will check whether the plan is working.
Explain your choices. Be ready to change your suggestions when Alex raises a problem.
Useful language:
“There’s too much…”
“Are there too many…?”
“Sam needs enough time for…”
“Perhaps a few…”
“A little… would be OK.”
“Could you spend less time…?”
“Would fewer… help?”
Before you finish, summarise the plan and check that Alex agrees.
In the comments below, please let me know what you thought of this lesson. If you have any suggestions for future lessons, please let me know.