While driving my teenager to school the other day, I noticed she was hunched over her phone, completely ignoring our trip. Curious, I asked, “What are you doing on your phone?” She wasn’t doing anything meaningful—just some mindless scrolling.

So, I said, “How about you put the phone down and look out the window, you might spot something interesting along the way.” Reluctantly, she complied. Not long after, something outside caught her attention, triggering a memory. Suddenly, she had plenty to share with me—thoughts, stories, and things she had almost forgotten.

What’s the moral of the story? When kids bury themselves in their screens, they miss out on the real world—a world that’s far more enriching, meaningful, and supportive of their growth and development.

As technology evolves, screen use has become a central part of our daily lives. Children now spend several hours daily engaging in screen-based activities, from smartphones and tablets to gaming consoles and computers. According to recent studies, children aged 8-12 in the U.S and Canada spend 4-6 hours on screens daily, while teenagers spend up to 9 hours. Keep in mind that these numbers are only for social media, gaming, and texting. They do not include when kids use screens for schoolwork or homework.

Although screens can offer valuable educational and social opportunities, excessive usage is linked to behavioural challenges, sleep disturbances, mental health concerns, and simply missing out on life. Therefore, building healthy tech habits is essential for balancing digital engagement with offline activities. This article outlines practical strategies for managing screen time to foster children’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Understanding the Importance of Screen Time Limits

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Canadian Pediatric Society(CPS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) provide guidelines for screen time limits based on age. These organizations recommend that children under two years avoid screens altogether, except for video chatting. For children between the ages of two and five, screen time should be limited to one hour per day. As children age and begin using screens for education and recreation, setting boundaries becomes more complex. School-aged children and adolescents need support managing recreational screen time to avoid displacing other essential activities like sleep, physical exercise, and social interactions.

The challenge of managing screen time lies not just in the quantity but also in usage quality. Not all screen activities have the same impact. For example, educational activities such as online learning or video chatting with family members are more beneficial than passive entertainment, like binge-watching TV shows or playing video games for extended periods. Thus, managing screen time involves more than just limiting exposure; it also requires building healthy tech habits.

Practical Tips for Managing Screen Time

To foster a balanced relationship with technology, parents, caregivers in collaboration with children can implement the following strategies:

Set Age-Appropriate Limits

Follow the AAP and CPS’ recommendations, which suggest no more than one hour of screen time per day for children aged 2-5 and structured recreational screen use for older kids. Built-in device features, such as screen time apps, can be used to monitor and limit daily usage.

Develop a Family Media Use Plan

Set clear boundaries and involve children in creating rules about screen time. A collaborative plan allows kids to participate in decision-making and fosters accountability.

Establish screen-free zones, such as during meals or in bedrooms, and screen-free periods, such as an hour before bedtime.

Encourage Alternative Activities

Support children in developing interests outside of technology, such as playing sports, learning musical instruments, or participating in art projects.

Plan family activities that don’t involve screens, like board game nights or outdoor excursions.

Model Healthy Screen Habits

Children are likelier to follow screen time rules if parents also model healthy tech behaviour. Set an example by avoiding excessive phone use during family time and keeping technology out of the bedroom at night.

Explain your own screen limits to your child. For instance, say, “I don’t keep my phone in my room because it affects my sleep, and I want to stay healthy.”

Monitor the Quality of Screen Use

Differentiate between productive screen time (such as educational apps) and recreational use (such as gaming or social media).

Watch content with your children and discuss positive behaviours or ideas from the programs they consume.

Teach Online Safety and Privacy

Educate children about the importance of online privacy and help them recognize the impact of advertisements and social influence on their choices.

Encourage them to engage with technology in ways that foster creativity and connection, such as video chatting with family or using apps to create art or music.

Set Device-Free Periods and Promote Healthy Sleeping Practices

Ensure children have device-free time before bed to avoid disruptions to their sleep. Consider storing devices in a safe place or lockbox overnight.

Teach sleep’s value for mental and physical well-being by setting family-wide rules about nighttime device usage.

Use Technology to Your Advantage

Leverage parental control apps to monitor your child’s usage and set app timers to limit access to specific platforms.

Reduce distractions by limiting the number of notifications enabled on your child’s device.

Check-In with Your Teenager on Social Trends

Regular, open discussions with your teenager about social media activities and trends. Help them understand the realities surrounding trending social issues, guiding them to derive meaningful insights from every encounter they share with you.

Managing screen time requires a proactive and thoughtful approach in a world where technology is increasingly integrated into daily life. While screens offer many benefits, such as entertainment, education, and social connection, excessive usage can interfere with important aspects of children’s development. Parents play a critical role in helping children develop healthy tech habits by setting clear boundaries, encouraging offline activities, and modelling responsible screen use. Open conversations about screen time and family collaboration empower children to make positive choices in their digital lives. By balancing online and offline activities, families can ensure that technology enriches rather than dominates their children’s lives.

Effective screen management is not about eliminating technology altogether but about fostering a healthy relationship with it. With consistent guidance, thoughtful planning and collaboration, children and adolescents can enjoy the benefits of technology while maintaining their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Author: Abie Amen (founder: iPhase Centre- Edmonton)

BScN, RN, MN-student, Internet Safety Educator

References

https://www.keepingintouchbc.com/blog/2023/9/27/4nu0qf7on1cfmct9qjk15dxfyzje2a#:~:text=Nearly%20all%20children%20in%20Canada,group%20was%201.9%20hrs%2Fday.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8425530/#sec031

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8425530/#sec031

https://www.keepingintouchbc.com/blog/2023/9/27/4nu0qf7on1cfmct9qjk15dxfyzje2a#:~:text=Nearly%20all%20children%20in%20Canada,group%20was%201.9%20hrs%2Fday.

www.internetphase.org

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/shame-nation/202401/how-to-help-your-teen-manage-screen-time-successfully

https://fortune.com/well/2023/10/24/teens-too-much-screen-time-find-balance/#:~:text=Family·Parenting-,Teens%20are%20spending%20the%20equivalent%20of%20a%2040%2Dhour%20work,them%20find%20the%20right%20balance&text=Teens%20spend%20an%20average%20of,behind%20at%205%C2%BD%20hours%20daily.