Screens are part of family life now — TV, tablets, phones, gaming consoles, laptops. The question most parents actually wrestle with isn’t “should my child use a screen” but “how much is too much, and how do we manage it without a daily battle.” Here are 7 tips for parents on managing kids’ screen time that are simple to put in place and easy to stick to.
#1. Count up the total screen time
Before you can manage screen time, it helps to know what you’re actually working with. Add up how much time your child spends across:
- TV or streaming
- Video games
- Mobile phones and tablets
- Computer or internet use (excluding homework)
Most families are surprised by the total once they add it all up — it’s usually more than it feels like day to day.
#2. Let your kids earn screen time
Set up a simple system where screen time is earned through chores or physical activity. For example, 30 minutes of football, a walk, or a cycle could earn 15 minutes of screen time. This links screens to activity and effort rather than making them the default option.
#3. Cut back as a family
Kids notice what parents do, not just what they say. Consider cutting back on your own screen time too, and pick one day a week as a screen-free day for everyone — a good chance to play a game together, get outdoors, or cook something as a family.
You might like reading Screen Time: How Much is Too Much for Kids?
#4. Use a timer
A visible, ticking timer is much harder for kids to argue with than a parent calling “time’s up” from the next room. It takes the personal battle out of it — the timer is the one saying no, not you.
#5. Let your child pick
Give your child a set amount of screen time each day and let them choose how to use it — TV, video games, or the internet. Handing over that small bit of control often reduces pushback, because the limit feels fair rather than imposed moment to moment.
#6. Make screen time a privilege
Screen time works best as something that can be earned and lost, not an automatic right. If misbehaviour happens, removing screen time is a natural, easy-to-enforce consequence that most kids understand quickly.
#7. Make a “no technology” zone or zones in your house
Pick a space in your home — the dining room is a common choice — and keep it screen-free. Reserving it for meals and conversation gives everyone, kids and parents included, a regular break from screens built into the day.
Frequently asked questions
How much screen time should my child have each day?
There’s no single number that fits every family — it depends on your child’s age, what the screen time is being used for, and what else fits into their day. The goal isn’t a perfect number, it’s balance: enough time for schoolwork, activity, sleep and family time alongside screens.
What age should I start setting screen time rules?
The earlier you introduce simple, consistent rules, the easier they are to maintain as your child gets older. Starting young means screen limits become a normal part of family life rather than a new restriction introduced later.
Does it matter what kind of screen time my child has?
Yes — time spent on homework, video calls with family, or an educational app isn’t the same as time spent scrolling or gaming. Many of the tips above (like the timer or earning system) work well specifically for entertainment screen time, rather than schoolwork or study.
What if my child resists these rules?
Start with one or two tips rather than all seven at once, and involve your child in setting them up where you can — letting them pick how they use their time (Tip #5) or what counts as an earning activity (Tip #2) tends to reduce resistance.
Related articles
- Screen Time: How Much is Too Much for Kids?
- Advice for Parents about Kids on Instagram
- 5 Tips for Parents on Tablet and Smartphone Online Safety
- Tips for Parents on Safer Searching on the Internet
Do you have a screen time tip that’s worked in your house? We’d love to hear it in the comments below.
Want more ideas like this?
Browse our other family and parenting tips for more practical, everyday advice — or save this one to come back to next time screen time comes up in your house.
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