Screen timeยท 4 min read
Talking about screen time without starting a row
Why blanket time limits often backfire, and a calmer approach based on what the time is being spent on rather than how many hours it adds up to.
Screen time is the single most common thing parents raise with me, and almost always as a number: two hours, four hours, too many hours. The number on its own tells you very little.
Content and context beat the clock
An hour spent building something, messaging close friends, or watching a film together is not the same as an hour of infinite scrolling before bed. Shifting the conversation from "how long" to "what and when" usually lowers the temperature immediately.
Three changes that tend to stick
- Protect sleep first: devices charge outside the bedroom overnight.
- Agree the boundary together, so it is a family rule rather than a punishment.
- Review it every term - what suits a nine year old will not suit a thirteen year old.
If conversations at home have already become difficult, a neutral third party explaining how the apps are designed can help everyone start again from the same page.