Iowa Association of Christian Schools

Iowa Association of Christian Schools

The Public Policy Voice of Iowa's Protestant, Christ-Centered Schools since 1976.

The public policy voice of Iowa's Protestant,
Christ-centered schools since 1976.

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Helping Families Win at Screens This Summer

May 20, 2025 By IACS

How Christian Schools Can Lead the Way in Digital Wellness
By Christina Crook, Founder & CEO, JOMO(campus)

Summer should be a time of joy, connection, and rest—but for many families, it quietly becomes a season of increased screen time, frayed patience, and lost opportunities. Without the structure of school, technology use tends to spike—especially when both kids and parents are looking for an easy escape from boredom or overwhelm.

The answer? Create a shared summer screen plan before vacation starts.

Recently, JOMO(campus) hosted a webinar on how to set up families for screen success this summer. The feedback was clear: families are hungry for hope, direction, and simple steps to do things differently. 

They’ve packaged it all up in a JOMO Summer Toolkit – a free, ready-to-use collection of tools designed to help schools support parents in building healthier, more intentional tech habits during the summer months.

Explore the toolkit at jomocampus.com/summer

Here are 3 simple steps to thriving this summer: 

1. Make a Summer Screen Plan

Before vacation mode sets in, develop shared expectations around screen use. This includes:

  • Creating a simple family agreement
  • Establishing screen-free zones (like mealtimes or outdoor time)
  • Distinguishing weekday vs. weekend rules
  • Building in flexible moments like rainy day movies or summer road trip screen time

The most important part? Involving kids in the process. When they help set the rules, they’re far more likely to stick to them.

2. Spark Creativity & Connection

Boredom isn’t the enemy—it’s the birthplace of creativity. But in a screen-saturated world, kids often need a nudge to rediscover offline joy. Help kids create:

  • Summer bucket lists
  • DIY supply kits (think art supplies, chalk, board games, nature challenges)
  • Family ideas for simple connection—cooking together, visiting a local park, family game nights

Screens shouldn’t be the default. With a little intention, summer becomes the perfect time to rekindle imagination and shared experiences.

3. Set Personal Summer Goals

When students identify personal goals—whether it’s reading five books, learning guitar, or completing a service project—they’re more focused, more grounded, and more proud of their progress.

Check out the goal-setting templates and conversation starters at jomocampus.com/summer to help families make it happen. A life filled with purpose leaves less room for passive scrolling.

The goal isn’t a screen-free life. It’s a life full of what truly matters.

This summer, your school can play a powerful role in helping families make that shift. Find all the resources you need at jomocampus.com/summer

Let’s help families chase fireflies instead of notifications this summer.

Topics: News, Preschool, Elementary/Middle, High School, Best Practices Tags: Christian Education, Parenting, Mental Health

Latest News

  • May 2025 Newsletter
  • Iowa ACE Creates ‘Parents For Educational Choice’ Group
  • Helping Families Win at Screens This Summer
  • April 2025 Newsletter
  • Education Savings Accounts – Applications for the 2025-26 school year open April 16
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