Screen Time and Kids
In today’s world, screens are everywhere. Smartphones, tablets and TVs are an unavoidable part of modern life. While they can be useful tools for education and entertainment, the impact of excessive screen time on children is a growing concern. After 30 years of working with kids, I’ve seen how overuse can affect a child’s brain development, attention span, and overall well being.
This is why it’s important for us to limit screen time, and that parents can set healthy boundaries to make screen use manageable.
Why Screen Time Can Be Problematic for Kids
Screens and Brain Development
Small children, especially those under five, do not need screens. Their brains are in a critical stage of development, and too much screen exposure can interfere with natural growth. Digital games and apps are designed to be exciting, often triggering dopamine releases. This gives children a quick “hit” of pleasure, making these activities highly addictive.
The Long-Term Impact on Attention
Screens can also affect attention spans. Studies show that fast-paced, stimulating content trains children’s brains to crave constant input, making it harder for them to focus on slower, more meaningful tasks like reading or imaginative play. A 2019 study in JAMA Pediatrics found that children who spent more than two hours a day on screens performed worse on language and thinking tests than those who used screens less.
The Silicon Valley Example
Many of the people designing these technologies actively avoid giving their own children screen time. As highlighted in the documentary The Social Dilemma, even tech experts understand the risks of excessive screen use. The creators behind popular apps and games often send their children to Steiner schools, recognising the potential harm from screens.
How to Limit Screen Time Without the Drama
Managing screen time can feel like one of the most exhausting aspects of parenting, especially when children are used to having unlimited access. When you try to take screens away from children, they can often go into meltdown because they’re going cold turkey.
However, with clear boundaries and a consistent approach, you can create a healthier balance.
1. Start Early
The easiest way to avoid screen-related challenges is to delay introducing them in the first place. For younger children, focus on activities that encourage natural development, like playing, drawing or exploring outdoors. If screens aren’t a regular part of their routine, they’re less likely to become dependent on them. Actually allowing our kids to be bored is important as it supports their creativity.
2. Create Screen-Free Zones and Times
Establish clear rules around when and where screens can be used. For example:
No screens during meals.
Bedrooms are screen-free zones.
Mornings are reserved for non-screen activities, like playing or reading.
These boundaries help children see screens as one part of their day, rather than the central focus.
3. Set Time Limits
The NHS recommends limiting screen time to no more than two hours a day for children over five and significantly less for younger kids. Use timers to help children understand when their time is up, and stick to the limits you set.
4. Replace Screens with Other Activities
Children often turn to screens because they’re bored or because it’s an easy source of entertainment. Provide engaging alternatives, such as:
Arts and crafts
Building
Outdoor adventures
Reading books together
When children are occupied with fun, hands-on activities, they’re less likely to demand screen time.
5. Be a Role Model
Children learn by watching their parents. If they see you glued to your phone or binge-watching TV, they’re more likely to mimic those habits. Model balanced screen use yourself, and show them that life offline can be just as exciting.
Setting Boundaries Without the Battles
Introducing limits on screen time can lead to resistance, especially if your child is already accustomed to unlimited use. Here are some tips to make the transition smoother:
Have Open Conversations
Explain why you’re setting limits in a way that’s appropriate for their age. For example:
“Too much screen time isn’t good for our brains, so we’re going to use them less.”
“We’re making more time for fun activities like playing outside or baking together.”
Being honest helps children understand that the rules aren’t about punishment, they’re about creating a healthier lifestyle.
Be Consistent
Children thrive on routine. If you allow exceptions or negotiate limits frequently, it sends mixed messages. Stick to your rules, and over time, they’ll become a normal part of your family’s routine. Children who know where they stand and have age appropriate boundaries, tend to be calmer and more content.
Use Rewards, Not Punishments
Rather than taking screens away as a punishment, reward screen-free behaviours. For example, you could say, “When you finish your homework, we can play a board game together,” rather than using screen time as the reward itself.
The Benefits of Balanced Screen Time
When you establish healthy screen habits, you’ll notice the benefits for your children:
Improved attention spans.
More creativity and independent play.
Stronger family connections during screen-free activities.
Better sleep, as screens before bed can disrupt their natural sleep cycles.
Calmer more content and cooperative children.
By creating a balanced approach, you’re giving your child the best of both worlds, the chance to enjoy technology in moderation while nurturing their development and well being.
Small Changes, Big Impact
Screens are part of life, but they don’t have to run your life.
Limiting screen time isn’t about cutting technology out completely, it’s about finding balance. Screens can be a great resource for learning and connection, but they shouldn’t dominate your child’s life. With clear boundaries and a consistent approach, you can help your child develop healthy habits that will serve them well in the digital age.
Parents’ Screen Time
Children learn by example, they tend to copy what you do rather than follow what you say.
Be sure to have some screen free time as a family every day. That includes mobile phones.
In my experience many parents are addicted to their phones/iPads and are frequently unavailable to their children, even for non essential calls or scrolling. Ask yourself what is more important, your own desire to be on a screen or your child’s long term mental and emotional wellbeing?
Remember your child’s brain is patterned by their environment from conception onwards.
For children to thrive they need to be in consistent healthy relationships with humans not with screens.
