I feel like I’m in a constant battle with my son over screen time. He just wants to play video games or watch videos, and the second I tell him it’s time to do homework or review something, he either ignores me or throws a fit. Every day it’s getting harder, and I don’t want to be the “bad guy” all the time, but I also don’t want him to grow up thinking responsibilities don’t matter. How do I make him understand that there’s a time for fun and a time to focus, without it all ending in tears or a screaming match?
Oh wow, this is my life too. My son is 5, and I swear if I let him, he’d live inside the iPad. It’s like nothing else exists once the screen is on. And when I try to take it away? Instant meltdown. I feel like I’m constantly negotiating with a tiny lawyer, except he never actually agrees to anything. 
One thing that kinda helped was using a visual timer. I set a time limit on the screen like 30 min, and when it beeps, he knows it’s time to stop. Sometimes there’s still pushback, but it’s a little easier when he can see how much time is left instead of me just saying Okay, you’re done. Also, I started doing a transition activity, so instead of yanking the tablet and saying homework time, I say Hey, let’s do a snack break first or something small before we jump into work. It’s not perfect, but at least he doesn’t go full rage mode every time
I feel you. My daughter is the same way. It’s like they physically can’t hear us when we tell them to stop playing. And when they finally do, it’s a whole dramatic performance. Honestly, sometimes I just let her have extra screen time because I don’t have the energy to fight it. I know it’s not great, but parenting is exhausting. If you figure out a magic solution, please share. 
I had this issue with my son too, and I won’t lie, it took a while to fix. What ended up working for us was setting clear expectations and sticking to them even when it was hard. We made a screen time routine, where he knows exactly when he’s allowed to play and when he needs to stop. I also let him earn extra screen time by finishing homework without complaining. So if he does his schoolwork first, he can get an extra 10-15 minutes later.
The biggest game, changer was making screen time predictable. Instead of me randomly taking the tablet away, he knew ahead of time that at 5:00, screens go off no matter what. Less arguing that way. There were tantrums at first, but once he saw I wasn’t giving in, he adjusted. Hope this helps a little!
I’ve been through this, and trust me, it does get better! My son is 7 now, but when he was 4, 5, it was a daily struggle. What helped us was shifting the focus from taking screens away to giving options for what’s next.
Instead of saying No more video games, I’d say, Alright, time to switch! Do you want to help me make a snack first, or should we read a book together?” Giving them a bit of control helps reduce the tantrums.
Another thing, don’t feel guilty about enforcing rules! You’re not being mean, you’re teaching balance. My son used to act like it was the end of the world when I turned off his games, but now, at 10, he has a healthy relationship with screens because we kept those limits in place. Stay firm, even when it’s hard! You’ve got this. 
Lol, I swear these kids act like they’re training for some high, level gaming championship. My 4 year old literally cries when I turn off the TV, like I just took away his life’s purpose. I’ve actually had to carry him to another room before because he refused to move. 
One thing that helped a little was giving him a warning before turning it off. So instead of Okay, we’re done, I’ll say, Alright, last video, and then we’re stopping. It doesn’t always prevent the whining, but it cuts it down by at least 50%. I also try to remind myself that screens aren’t evil, they just need limits. So some days I let him watch an extra 10 minutes if it means we can have a drama, free evening. No shame in survival mode.
I read something recently that helped a lot with this. Kids struggle with transitions, especially from fun to not fun. Instead of yanking the game away, try a countdown system.
For example:
10 minutes left… (reminder)
5 minutes left… (start prepping them)
2 minutes left… (let them know exactly what’s next)
Another trick? Use screen time as a reward after responsibilities. Instead of saying You can’t have your tablet until you do your homework, flip it: Once you finish your homework, THEN you can have your tablet. It changes the focus to earning time instead of losing it. Less fighting that way.
Also, if possible, try setting up non, screen activities that feel special. Maybe a cool sticker chart for finishing schoolwork or letting him pick out a fun snack for after. The more we make non-screen time enjoyable, the less resistance they’ll have. Hope this helps!