Let’s be honest—handing your child a tablet so you can make dinner in peace is the modern equivalent of hiding in the loo with a chocolate bar. No judgement here!
But when you realise your offspring has moved seamlessly from streaming cartoons to staging elaborate ninja battles on Roblox, it might be time to rethink how much screen time is running the show at home.
You’re juggling more plates than a circus act, but these screen-wrangling tricks can help reclaim your family life without needing a PhD in neuroscience or a second mortgage.
1. Create Tech-Free Zones That Actually Work
Designating a few sacred spaces can transform the relationship your kids have with their devices. The dinner table, bedrooms, and bathrooms are excellent starting points.
Announce these boundaries with a bit of fanfare—maybe even throw in a “no electronics allowed” sign made with glitter (bonus points for involving the kids in crafting it).
Studies from the American Academy of Pediatrics consistently show that kids sleep better and do better socially when screens don’t invade bedrooms.
Want your child to actually talk to you over a bowl of spaghetti? Banish phones and tablets to a charging station in the lounge.
Oh, and if you catch yourself scrolling during ‘no device dinner’—expect to be called out. Fair’s fair, mate.
2. Lead by Example Without Turning Into a Monk
The quickest way to get kids to tune you out? Bark orders about screen limits while sneakily checking your own phone under the table.
Children are expert hypocrisy detectors. If you want them to see screens as just one slice of life (not the whole cake), model the habits you want to see.
Try an evening where everyone’s phone sleeps in a basket by 8pm. Or declare Sunday mornings “Screen-Less Sundays” and do something together—pancake flipping, walking the dog, even letting the kids pick the playlist for a kitchen disco.
The point isn’t perfection. If you slip up, laugh about it. This is about progress, not sainthood.
3. Set Crystal Clear Boundaries (And Stick With Them Longer Than Your Last Diet)
Kids thrive on routine and clarity, especially when it comes to boundaries.
Set limits on how much time is okay for screens each day, and be specific—“One episode after tea,” or “30 minutes of games after chores.” Vague rules evaporate faster than a lolly in July.
The World Health Organization recommends no more than an hour a day of recreational screen time for kids aged 2 to 5, and consistent limits for older kids, too.
For older children, involving them in drawing up a family media agreement can work wonders. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Family Media Plan tool can help map it out together with your child’s input, which makes buy-in a whole lot likelier.
Consistency is much harder than enthusiasm on Day 1, but the results are worth it.
And yes, there will be whining. Stand your ground—negotiations over “just five more minutes” have felled stronger men and women.
4. Offer Alternatives That Actually Compete With Screens
Telling your child to “find something else to do” rarely ends with a child enraptured by the joys of silent reading. If you want screens to lose their hypnotic pull, sprinkle your home with genuinely appealing options.
Think about what makes your child light up—fort building, crafts, baking cupcakes, a pile of comic books, or a football in the garden.
For younger kids, a box of dress-up clothes or a fresh batch of playdough can be the golden ticket. For tweens and teens, look to their interests: model kits, a Bluetooth speaker for music, even old-school board games with a modern twist (Catan, anyone?).
If you’re stuck, check out resources such as The Genius of Play for age-appropriate inspiration. Keep things visible and accessible: stash art supplies on the kitchen table or keep a frisbee by the back door.
The more friction you remove from offline fun, the easier it becomes for kids to slide into something screen-free.
5. Use Screens Together, Not as Babysitters
One of the easiest ways to keep tabs on what your kids are watching and doing? Sit down and join them.
Co-viewing not only gives you insight into their digital world, but studies like this one from Common Sense Media have found it can spark conversations about everything from online safety to advertising tricks.
Pick a movie for family night, try a two-player game, or help them film a silly video for Grandma. This transforms screens from a solitary escape to a shared experience—and gives you a chance to chat about what they’re seeing and doing.
You might even discover you actually like Minecraft (or at least can tolerate it for 20 minutes).
And if you hear “Muuum, you’re so embarrassing!”—congratulations, you’re doing it right.
6. Make Tech Work for You, Not Against You
Setting limits doesn’t mean you have to become the Screen Time Police. Plenty of parental control options exist that can give you a break from constant negotiating.
Apple’s Screen Time or Google Family Link let you set daily device limits, approve app downloads, and even schedule device “down time” remotely.
Some smart TVs and gaming consoles have their own parental controls that can restrict access or even shut things down on a schedule (potentially saving you from being the family baddie).
Be upfront with your kids about what you’re using and why. It’s not about snooping, but keeping everyone healthy and safe.
Tech solutions won’t do all the heavy lifting, but they can help reinforce the rules—especially during busy weeks when you’re just trying to survive.
7. Make Screen Time Earned, Not Expected
Ever notice how screens are the default activity the minute boredom strikes? Flip the script by treating screen time as a reward for jobs well done, rather than an automatic right.
Suddenly, tidying up LEGO, reading a chapter, or walking the dog becomes much more appealing if it earns 30 minutes of their favourite show.
This approach gives you leverage, reduces the sense of entitlement, and builds healthy habits. It also works wonders with siblings: “When you’ve both finished your chores, you get to pick a game to play together.”
Just don’t forget to follow through. If the laundry gets folded, the reward happens. If not, well… there’s always tomorrow (and another chance to find those missing socks).
Bringing Balance Back to Family Life
Screens aren’t going anywhere, and neither are the parents who love their peace and quiet. The trick is striking a balance that lets kids enjoy the good bits of tech, without letting it rule the roost.
Start small, stick with it, and expect a few bumps (and plenty of creative excuses) along the way.
With patience, a sense of humour, and a backup stash of rainy day activities, you can outsmart screen overuse—and maybe even have a bit more actual fun together.
And if all else fails, there’s always the classic: “Wi-Fi’s down, let’s go outside.”
Miracles can happen.
