Every afternoon when we get home from school, I get ready for work, and my son stays glued to his screen for hours. I’ve noticed he plays non-stop, and sometimes he gets irritable and exhausted. It worries me because I feel like all that screen time is taking away from other activities and, most importantly, the rest he really needs. I try to set limits, but I’m not sure I’m doing it right. I just want to find a balance where he can still enjoy his games without it negatively affecting his health. Has anyone else dealt with this? How do you handle it?
Omg, I could have written this myself! My 8yo is the same, he just zones in, and it’s like pulling teeth to get him off the screen. We’ve had SO many tantrums over turning it off, and I totally feel you on the exhaustion. What’s been working for us (kind of) is setting a timer and letting him know that when it goes off, he has to take a break. Sometimes he fights it, but consistency is key (or so I keep telling myself lol). You’re not alone!
this is a daily struggle in our house too. I used to feel like the worst mom because I’d let my son play for too long, but honestly, some days I just didn’t have the energy to fight it. The turning point for us was setting screen-free zones, no screens during meals, no screens in the bedroom, and we do a “tech-free hour” before bed. It’s not perfect, but I have noticed a difference in his mood and sleep. Also, we started doing a 1:1 trade, he gets 30 min of screen time for every 30 min of another activity (reading, outside play, chores, etc.). It’s not foolproof, but it helps us keep some balance. Maybe something like that could work for you?
Yep, same here. My 7yo acts like his tablet is his lifeline. I swear, he gets more upset about losing screen time than anything else! It’s exhausting to constantly be the bad guy. I wish I had an answer, but honestly, I’m just here to say you’re not alone in this struggle. If anyone has a magic fix, I’m all ears
I totally get your worry, but I just want to say that you’re already doing a great job by being aware and wanting to find a balance. It’s tough, but I truly believe that as long as we keep working at it, our kids will learn to have a healthy relationship with screens. My son went through a similar phase, and with time, structure, and a lot of patience, he now understands that screen time is just one part of his day, not the whole thing. It gets better!
I feel this SO much. My 6yo is the same way, and I’m struggling to figure out what’s a reasonable limit. How much screen time do you guys allow your kids daily? I try to do 1, 2 hours max, but sometimes I cave because I just need to get things done. Is there a magic number that actually works?
We went through this exact thing with my son, and it felt like an uphill battle. What worked for us was involving him in the process. Instead of just cutting screen time cold turkey, we sat down and talked about why we needed to change things. We made a weekly schedule together that included screen time, outside time, and family activities. Once he had a say in it, he was way more willing to follow the rules. We also found that replacing screen time with an activity he liked (drawing, Legos, riding his bike) helped a lot. Maybe see if your son has a non-screen hobby he could get excited about?
Been there, done that, and let me tell you, it DOES get better. My oldest is 12 now, and we went through this when he was 7, 8. Back then, I worried I was failing him by allowing too much screen time, but I’ve realized that as they grow, they naturally start to balance things out. What worked for us was enforcing screen breaks (every hour, he had to do something active for 20 minutes), and we always made bedtime a no-screen zone. It was hard at first, but once it became routine, it got easier. Just know that this phase won’t last forever, and you’re doing the right thing by setting boundaries now!
I totally understand your concern, screen time is a HUGE issue for so many of us. Experts recommend no more than 1-2 hours of recreational screen time per day for kids this age, and they suggest breaking it up rather than allowing it all at once. Something that worked well for us was using a reward system. My son earns screen time by completing certain tasks, reading, chores, outside play, etc. It shifts the focus from screens being a default activity to something he has to balance with other responsibilities. Also, blue light before bed can really mess with sleep, so we cut off screens at least an hour before bedtime, and it made a big difference. Maybe trying some of these strategies could help ease your worries and give you a little more control over the situation