With the school year starting up, many kids will be back in front of screens. From online textbooks to digital homework assignments, technology is a big part of education today. Although it’s convenient and provides so many unique learning opportunities, striking a healthy screen time balance is super important, and with a little forward-thinking, it’s really not that difficult. 

Where’s the best place to start? At school, of course! Familiarize yourself with their screen time policies and guidelines, and ask questions about how they balance time in front of a screen with other kinds of schoolwork. Ask your child’s teacher how often their lessons, activities, and special classes will be on a device. And how much learning happens outdoors? Don’t forget to ask about homework expectations and if they have screen-free options. 

Discuss the details with your child and make a plan for balancing between schoolwork and non-school screen time. If you haven’t already, add screen time trackers to your child’s devices to monitor how much time they’re actually spending there. Turn on parental controls to block inappropriate content and manage their online activities. 

Be sure to set firm, clear boundaries for screen time in—and out—of your home, like when they’re at friends’ houses and during activities. What does a reasonable amount of screen time look like for your child? This number will vary between families, so always do what’s best for yours. 

Create device-free spaces in your home so everyone can take a break. Are devices in kids’ bedrooms a big no-no at your house? Or do they need to put phones away at the dinner table? These “rules” are great for everyone in the home, not just the kids. You might also consider taking regular screen breaks for things like outdoor or imaginative play, reading, or family activities. Plan ahead and unplug as a family with a digital detox (just be sure to let everyone know ahead of time). 

Delete apps and games that might consume your child's time or distract them from schoolwork. Organize their apps and folders for easy access to educational content so they don’t get pulled into more Minecraft. 

Keep up with the screen-time routine to avoid epic meltdowns and hearing that you’re “the worst parent ever.” Be open to reviewing and adjusting when plans need modifications, but remember, sticking with your screen-time rules is worth it, even if your expectations make others in your home upset. And remember always to model healthy screen-time habits—we know this is hard!

What does balancing screen time mean in your home?

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