Screen time tips

Every family’s approach is different. These ideas are starting points you can try, adjust, or skip.

• Pick screen-free times together

  Choose a few moments, like meals or the hour before bed, when screens are off for everyone. Deciding together makes it feel like a family routine, not a punishment.

• Give a heads-up before it ends

  Try “Five more minutes, then we’ll turn it off,” and say what comes next. Warnings and a plan for what’s next can make the switch easier.

• Watch or play together sometimes

  Join in now and then and ask about what they like. It shows you’re interested and gives you something to talk about.

• Show it yourself

  Children notice how we use our own phones. Put yours down at meals or when they’re talking to you, and say why: “I’m putting my phone away so I can listen.”

• Notice more than the minutes

  What they’re watching or playing, and how they feel afterward, matter too. Ask, “What was that like?” and notice whether they seem calm, wound up, or upset.

• Offer something to do next

  Instead of only taking screens away, suggest an easy alternative: a walk, drawing, a snack together, or a quick game.

• Give devices a night-time home

  Many families find it helps to charge devices outside bedrooms overnight. Pick a spot together and keep it the same for everyone.

This is general educational guidance, not medical advice. If you’re worried about your child’s screen use, sleep, or mood, talk with your child’s pediatrician or another qualified professional.