Every time I grab my phone, my son is right there, wanting to see it. If his cousin’s tablet rings, he drops everything and runs to watch. And let’s not even talk about the TV, because when that’s on, it’s like the rest of the world disappears.
It worries me a lot. I don’t want to be that mom who just hands over a tablet and calls it a day, but I do want to get him one eventually. I just want to teach him balance first, so he doesn’t turn into a screen zombie.
This weekend, I decided to do something about it. I started setting limits and being more mindful of screen time. I have no idea if I’m doing it right, but I need to figure this out before I get him a device of his own. How do you all handle screen time? What’s a healthy amount these days?
Omg, same. I swear my kid has a built in radar for screens. I’ll be secretly scrolling, and somehow, she just knows. It’s like she can sense a screen being turned on from across the house. 
I try to limit it, but it’s hard because screens are everywhere. I’m also in the same boat about getting her a tablet, on one hand, I want her to have something educational, but on the other, I don’t want to open the floodgates to endless screen time.
Lately, I’ve been using a reward system. She gets 30 minutes after school if she does her chores, and we do no screen weekends once a month. Not perfect, but it helps!
I totally get your concern. My oldest was glued to screens, and it was really affecting his mood and sleep. What worked for us was setting super clear boundaries and sticking to them no matter what.
Time limits : We started with 30 minutes a day and adjusted as needed. Weekends, we allow a little more.
Screen free zones : No screens at the dinner table, in the car (unless long trips), or in bedrooms.
Screen swaps : If they want to watch TV, they have to earn it with playtime outside, reading, or doing a craft first.
It wasn’t easy at first lots of whining, but once we got into a routine, it became normal. Now, my kids actually self, regulate and even put the tablet away without me asking. Stay consistent, and you’ll see changes!
Oh wow, I feel this so much. My son is the same way! If he sees a screen, he’s locked in like it’s the most interesting thing in the world. I try to limit it, but then I see other kids his age who have their own tablets and wonder if I’m just being too strict?
I also struggle with what’s considered healthy screen time. I’ve heard the recommendations, but they seem kind of unrealistic. Do you go by the official guidelines, or just what works for your family?
I get it. I really do. Screens are everywhere now, and it’s impossible to avoid them completely. I’ve felt so much guilt over screen time because sometimes it’s the only way I get a moment to breathe. Like, if I need to make dinner or take a work call, I honestly don’t know what else to do but hand over a tablet.
And then I feel bad because I want to encourage more play, more creativity, more real, world interaction, but life is busy. So I totally understand the worry. You’re not alone in this!
I promise, there’s a balance to be found! My son was a total screen junkie for a while, and I thought we’d never break the cycle. But after a lot of trial and error, we found a rhythm that works.
We started with small shifts, like turning off the TV during meals and keeping the tablet put away unless we actively planned to use it. The biggest change, though, was finding other things he loved that weren’t screen, based. Once we introduced puzzles, Lego sets, and outdoor scavenger hunts, he started asking for screens less and less.
Now, he still watches TV and plays games, but it’s not the only thing he wants to do. You’re on the right path, and trust me, it will get better!
This is such a common struggle! We found a system that works pretty well for our family, maybe it’ll help you too?
“Screen Time Tickets” : Each morning, my kid gets two 30 minute tickets for screen time. He can use them whenever he wants, but once they’re gone, that’s it. He has to plan and make choices.
Family Screen Rules : We have screen free times, like before bed and during meals. We also try to have one screen free day each weekend.
Modeling Behavior : This was a hard one for me, but I started putting my phone away more often. It made a huge difference! Kids follow what we do more than what we say.
It took a few weeks, but now he doesn’t even ask for screens as much. Hope this helps!
Your post totally hit home for me. I had the exact same fears with my son. It was like he was hypnotized whenever a screen was on, and I kept thinking, Is this normal? Am I setting him up for bad habits?
What ended up working was a mix of limits and redirection. I didn’t want to just say no screens because that would have made him even more obsessed. Instead, I let him have some screen time but made sure to mix in other fun things, building forts, playing with kinetic sand, even just taking him outside to ride his scooter.
It wasn’t an overnight fix, but little by little, he stopped hyper, focusing on screens. Now, he watches TV or plays on the tablet, but it’s not his everything anymore. You’re doing great just by being aware and trying to find balance. You’ve got this!