Eight ways to break a screen habit (2024)

Before your kids enter the social whirl of school, you have complete control over screen time: You can make it seem as though PBS programming is the only thing on TV and that mobile devices are for grown-ups only. You could even get rid of your flat screen and pretend TV doesn't exist!

But eventually the real world will come knocking, and your newly socialized little person may demand to know about Dora, Pokémon Go, or Star Wars. Your challenge will be figuring out how to indulge your child's natural curiosity while keeping screen time from becoming a battleground.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends parents set consistent limits on when children can use screens and how much screen time they can have. Here are some tips on how to keep screen time under control – and make the most of it.

Draft guidelines that include how much screen time is allowed, when (and where) screens can be used, and what kinds of media are acceptable. Working on a family plan is a good opportunity to define your family's values and discuss how people can be good digital citizens.

As you work on your plan, keep in mind the AAP's recommendations: Keep screens out of bedrooms, turn them off during dinner, and don't use screens during the last hour before bedtime.

You can use the AAP's free online family media plan toolOpens a new window for help creating your family's guidelines.

Make screens inconvenient

Too often, TV is a backdrop to family life, blaring away in the den or family room while the kids play or the family eats dinner. Instead, turn off the TV when no one is watching it, and keep the TV out of sight as much as possible.

"We purposely didn't put a TV on the first floor of our house so that watching television would require a deliberate decision on everyone's part to either head to the basem*nt or to the master bedroom," says Susan Korones Gifford, a New Jersey mother of two.

Keeping the TV in a closed cabinet also helps tame habitual watching. If channel surfing is a problem, try hiding the remote. Keep mobile devices in one spot, ideally out of view, and don't let children have screens in the bedroom.

Giving your child carte blanche to watch YouTube in another room or flip through TV channels is asking for trouble. Choose games, shows, movies, and apps together, assessing whether they're a good fit for your child and family. Read reviews, and preview anything you're uncertain about.

Involving your child in making these decisions reinforces your family's values and teaches him to be a discerning consumer.

Set firm limits

Media with graphic sexual content or violence obviously should be off-limits for children. But you might struggle with how to handle shows or games you think are simply dumb or unpleasant.

Try to find out why your child is interested in it. Does she really enjoy it, or does she just want to be able to talk about it on the playground? Check reviews from reputable sources, like Common Sense MediaOpens a new window. Find an alternative and agree on a reasonable compromise if need be.

Watch programs, not just shows

Choose what to watch ahead of time, then turn off the screen when the program is over. This sends your child the message that watching TV should be an engaging activity, not just something to do when he's bored.

Record favorite programs to watch later, or stream them at a convenient time. (Recording programs also makes it possible to skip commercials for junk food, violent movies, and toys.)

Watch together

As much as possible, join your child during screen time, and focus on the program instead of multitasking. You need to know what your child is watching so you don't end up surprised if a show, game, or website proves to be not as kid-friendly as you thought. Watching together also helps you talk with your child about what she's seeing.

Ban screens during playdates

Kids need time to play and interact with their peers, and screens only get in the way. Make it a household rule that the TV and other screens stay off when friends visit. You can also ask other parents to respect your "no screens" rule when your child visits their home.

Be a role model

Follow the same guidelines you expect your child to follow. Be intentional about your screen time use, and turn off screens when you're not actively watching a show or using technology. Put down your phone when you're spending time together as a family.

Certainly, peer pressure affects children's screen habits, but ultimately, children are most influenced by the example their parents set.

Learn more:

• What to watch: The best children's television