I’m really struggling with screen time for my kids. My 11-year-old and 8-year-old seem to be glued to their devices whenever they’re home. I try to set limits, but it always ends in an argument or, worse, sneaky screen time when I’m not looking. I’m exhausted from being the “screen police” and could really use some advice. How do you keep screen time under control without it turning into a daily battle? Is this just a phase, or should I be more strict?
1 Like
I hear you! My 9-year-old is obsessed with video games, and I’ve had to set up a “tech-free time” in the evenings. It’s a non-negotiable hour where we do something together as a family—play a board game, go for a walk, or just talk. It was tough at first, but now it’s part of our routine, and the arguments have decreased. Maybe something like that could work for you too?
1 Like
My kids are 8 and 4, and trust me, it gets easier with consistency. We used to have major meltdowns over screen time, but we set clear boundaries and stuck to them, even when it was hard. One thing that helped was involving them in creating the rules—they felt more in control and were less likely to push back. Also, don’t beat yourself up too much—screen time isn’t all bad, especially if they’re using it for creative or educational purposes.
Thanks all! Very helpful and will try to implement
Something our family and a few friends have implemented is essentially ‘earning’ your screen time. In the summer they got 5 minutes for every page they did from a math workbook, or earned time for various chores they completed, etc. That seemed to help out at least a little bit!
THX I will take it into account