I am questioning how much time our 9 year old spends on devices. games, youtube, and even the so called educational apps, screens are such a big part of his day. We’ve noticed he’s more impatient and moody, especially when it’s time to turn them off. Are we unintentionally making things harder for him by not cutting back? It’s a tricky balance, and honestly, we’re trying to figure out what’s best. How do you handle it in your home?
Same here, it’s definitely a struggle! 
We’re going through the same thing with our 8 year old. It’s so hard because screens are everywhere, and they’re not all bad, right? We’ve tried setting timers but even that leads to a meltdown. It’s tough finding the balance between giving them freedom and setting limits. I’d love to hear what others do too.
We’re in the same boat with our 10 year old, and I do feel guilty sometimes because screens also help us get through the day. But I’ve noticed the same mood changes, especially when it’s time to turn them off. It feels like no matter what we do, there’s always a struggle. I just remind myself that it’s not about being perfect, it’s about doing the best we can. I try to focus on the positives, like using screens to learn a new skill or watching a family movie together.
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I totally get your concern. We dealt with this last year, and it really helped to set up a structured screen schedule. For example, no screens in the morning before school, limited use after homework, and a no screens after 7 PM rule. Also, we made an effort to replace screen time with engaging activities, board games, puzzles, even cooking together. It wasn’t easy at first (there were some major protests) but after a few weeks, the moodiness improved, and it felt like we had more quality time as a family. The key for us was consistency and sticking to the rules ourselves, no phones during family time, for example.
It’s the same in our house, mood swings galore! 
Thank you all for the ideas and support! It’s good to know we’re not alone. I think we’ll try setting a clear screen schedule and finding some other activities he enjoys. It’ll probably be tough at first, but your stories give me hope it’ll get better.
As a parent of teens now, I’ve been down this road. It’s amazing how much setting boundaries early can make a difference. When our kids were younger, we created tech free zones like the dining room and bedrooms. We also had a rule that for every hour of screen time, they had to spend at least 30 minutes doing something active or creative. They didn’t always like it, but now they have a better understanding of how to balance screen use on their own. It’s never too late to start setting boundaries, just stay consistent, and they’ll adapt.
We recently tried replacing screens with family challenge nights few times a week, puzzles, trivia games, or even baking together. It’s been a hit and gives us something to bond over while keeping everyone off devices. My son still loves his gaming time, but the balance has helped with his patience and mood swings.
We’ve noticed this with our kid too. It’s wild how screens can totally change their mood. I’ve wondered if it’s more about what they’re doing on the screen (like games vs watching videos) or just the sheer amount of time. Have you tried cutting back or swapping activities yet?
We’ve started making small changes, like having screen free weekends, and it’s been interesting to see how he adjusts. It’s not easy, there’s definitely some resistance, but I’m hoping it helps us all find a better balance. Thanks for all the tips and encouragement; I’ll definitely try incorporating more family activities into our routine!