Screen Time: A Guide for Parents and Carers

Screen time. A common source of conflict at home, as well as in some services and settings.

In this technology-focused world, some children and young people may struggle to find a healthy balance between their digital and offline lives. This can lead to them spending extended periods online on their devices, which can sometimes adversely impact other areas of their life.

By helping families communicate openly with their child around screen time, we can play a key role in reducing screen-related conflict and promote a better balance of online and offline life for children and young people.

Supporting children and young people to manage their screen time

Every family is different and each will have their own expectations and boundaries around screen time; there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. However, these suggestions can act as a helpful guide for parents and carers.

1. Encourage open, non-judgemental conversations

Create a safe space where your child feels heard, without worrying about being told off, judged, or criticised. Together, explore what they enjoy most about their screen use, whether it’s gaming, chatting with friends, or watching content, and use that as a starting point.

You could ask open-ended questions like, “What do you enjoy most about being online?” or “How do you feel when you play that game online with your friends?”

It’s important not to shame or embarrass your child about their online activity. And it’s also vital to acknowledge the positives of screen time, while gently and sensitively exploring any concerns.

2. Promote awareness of age-appropriate content

Age classifications are based on the nature of the content of things like videos, games, and social media platforms, to protect children from engaging with anything that could be considered harmful.

Help your child understand why age ratings exist and how the content they are exposed to might affect how they feel, think, or behave. Encourage critical thinking and open conversations around the shows, games, and apps they use, asking questions like, “How would you feel if your younger sibling watched this?” or “Why do you think age ratings are important?”

3. Support them to create balanced routines

Like us, many children and young people are creatures of habit. Set routines and structure can create a sense of predictability, helping them feel safe and secure.

Rather than imposing strict limits without discussion, involve your child in building routines that make space for schoolwork, physical activity and rest, as well as screen time. You might help them design a weekly planner with screen time blocks, or suggest screen-free times like mealtimes, just before bed, or during family time.

Empowering them to make choices and involving them in the process fosters a sense of ownership, making it more likely that they will stick to what has been decided.

When issues arise, like struggling to focus on schoolwork or feeling overwhelmed by social media, work together on solutions. Encourage them to reflect on how screen time affects different areas of their life and support them to come up with their own ideas for managing screen time.

4. Acknowledge the impact of peer pressure

Many children and young people can feel pressure to watch, play, or join in with what ‘everyone else’ is doing online, even if it doesn’t feel right to them. This might be particularly true of teenagers, who are often heavily influenced by their peers and friends, and who may not want to ‘lose face’ by opting out.

Help them build confidence in making their own choices by talking openly about peer pressure and how it can show up online, for example in group chats, challenges, or games. Encourage them to practise ways of saying ‘no’ or stepping back without losing friendships. Phrases like, “I’m not into that right now” or “I don’t feel comfortable with this, but I’ll still hang out,” can be helpful when addressing peer pressure.

5. Encourage them to ask for help

Sometimes, despite everyone’s best efforts, children and young people will see something upsetting or harmful online. It’s vital that, at such moments, they know where to turn for help and advice.

Reinforce the message, “It’s always okay to ask for help,” or “If you see something upsetting, who could you go to for help?”. While there are ways to report harmful content online, it’s also essential that a child or young person has a trusted adult they can safely confide in.

You can also help them set safe boundaries around their online life and remind them of some simple guidelines for online safety, such as only interacting with people they know in real life, and not sharing any personal details, like address, school name, or date of birth.

Working together to manage screen time

Every family will approach screen time differently, and that’s okay. What matters most is creating a supportive environment where children and young people feel safe, understood, and empowered to make healthy choices.

By keeping communication open, encouraging reflection, and working together to set realistic boundaries, families can navigate the digital world with more confidence and less conflict. With patience, understanding, and a bit of flexibility, screen time can become a balanced and positive part of family life.

Further support

If you work with families, our Family Engagement Training helps build stronger connections with parents and carers, helping them to support their child’s behaviour in practical, positive ways.

Families can also benefit from tailored support via our dedicated site, My Family Coach. If your child’s school hasn’t yet subscribed, let them know about our training so you can get access, too.