07 MAY 2025
As parents and carers, it’s important to help children and young people build healthy habits around the use of devices by setting boundaries for screen time they have in a day. Setting limits can make a big difference and can be done in small, simple steps. In this article, Lois Howard, our Head of Information Security, will share her top tips for supporting children with screen time.
Screens are now part of everyday life, whether it’s a TV, tablet, games console, mobile phone, or computer. While technology can be great for learning, social interactions and entertainment, too much screen time can affect concentration, behaviour, and sleep.
Setting daily limits
You should decide how much screen time your child can have across their devices each day. You can base limits on time of day, such as 30 minutes screen time in a morning and 1-hour screen time after school or dinner. You should be clear and consistent, so your child knows what to expect. This helps keeps screen use under control.
Create a screen routine
By setting daily limits and setting specific times of day to allow screen time, you can help your child understand when screen time is okay and when it's not. Setting a regular routine for screen time will help children to remain focused and calm.
Choose good quality content
Not all screen time is the same. Think about what the device is and what is being used for when setting limits, you may allow more time on devices used for homework than devices used for gaming. Across your devices, look for apps and content that are age-specific. App stores have age guidelines and streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ advise age ratings on their content. Watching or playing together can also help you understand what your child is using their devices for.
Set a good example
Children copy what they see, particularly with technology. Use screen time limits and routines to show them that screens aren’t the most important thing. Set time to talk to each other, play board games, go for a walk, or read together. If the adults in your house use screens in a balanced way, your child is more likely to do the same.
Have screen-free zones
To help support the limits and routines of screen time it is a good idea to choose parts of your house where screens aren’t allowed, this could be the lounge, dinner table, or bedrooms. This encourages taking breaks from screens and supports time together without devices. Keeping screens out of the bedroom can encourage relaxation and help support healthy sleep routines, using devices in bed and before sleeping can interfere with sleep cycles.
Encourage traditional activities
Encouraging traditional activities such as playing with toys or playing outside, reading, drawing, helping with cooking, or playing board games promotes fun without technology and helps to support social skills, motor skills, attention span and overall health.
Tech tools
You can use the tools of devices to set screen time limits, these often require passcodes to be changed so you can safely set limits that your child cannot change. These features are normally found in the settings of the device and are called things such as ‘parental controls’, ‘screen time and limits’ or ‘digital wellbeing’. If you are unsure where they are, you can google something such as ‘set Nintendo switch screen time’ and there will be a guide on how to set this on each device you search.
Open communications
You can talk to your child about their experiences on their devices, talk about their favourite games, videos or apps. You can use this to support the limits and routines for screen time and have open conversations about online experiences and safety. These conversations can also help you to understand their online world and what they are using their devices for.
It is important to remember that managing screen time limits and routines is not about stopping use of screens or saying no to screens, it is about finding a healthy balance. By setting clear limits and routines for devices, encouraging and supporting traditional activities and having open communications with your child, you support healthy habits and routines.
Support
If you would like to find more support and advice on devices, supporting online safety and digital wellbeing, you can visit Childnet International, Internet Matters, and the NSPCC’s online safety hub who all offer simple, practical advice for parents and carers, even if you’re not confident with technology.