As the new school term approaches, experts advise gradually reducing children’s screen use through achievable goals and engaging alternatives, fostering a smoother transition back to routines without conflict.
As the new school term approaches, parents are often looking for a practical way to cut back on children’s screen use without triggering daily battles. After weeks of later bedtimes, gaming, videos and social media, a sudden ban can easily backfire, said education specialist and family relations adviser Abla Ibrahim, who warned that abrupt changes tend to invite resistance and tension at home.
A more effective approach, she said, is to prepare children and teenagers gradually for a more balanced routine before classes resume. That means first understanding how much time they actually spend on phones and tablets. The Mayo Clinic Health System says parents should start with realistic expectations and keep screen time from crowding out sleep, exercise and face-to-face interaction.
Ibrahim advised families to track use for a few days before making changes, then divide it into necessary time and pure entertainment. That can reveal which apps or activities are consuming the most attention. Common Sense Media also recommends beginning with small, achievable goals rather than imposing dramatic cuts that are hard to maintain.
She also urged parents to reduce screen time step by step, not all at once. If a child spends several hours a day online, trimming that time in stages is more likely to stick than an instant drop to a strict limit. Onmanorama reported that psychologists taking the same view say gradual change is less confrontational and gives children time to adjust.
Another key step is replacing the screen with something else. The Mayo Clinic Health System advises parents to encourage outdoor activity and direct interaction, while Common Sense Media suggests reading, arts and crafts, and other screen-free options. Ibrahim made the same point, saying children who lose their main source of entertainment will quickly become bored unless families offer appealing alternatives.
She also recommended setting clear time blocks for phones and games, rather than repeatedly telling a child to put the device away. A family media plan can help, Healthline noted in advice for parents managing children with attention difficulties, especially when rules are clear and consistent. Keeping devices out of bedrooms before sleep is another important habit, because evening screen use can make it harder to settle down.
Ibrahim said the bedroom should become a calmer space before school starts, with phones switched off well before bedtime and replaced by reading, conversation or preparations for the next day. She also encouraged parents to use built-in screen-time tools to show children how much time they are actually spending on different apps, and to silence unnecessary alerts that tempt them back to the device.
A more orderly daily routine can make the whole process easier. Common Sense Media says families are better off bringing bedtime, wake-up time and mealtimes closer to the school schedule in advance, so screens become just one part of the day rather than the thing that shapes it. Ibrahim also cautioned against using a phone as the reward for every task, arguing that families should mix in other forms of encouragement, such as outings, favourite meals or shared activities.
She said some resistance is normal in the first few days and should not be taken as proof that the plan has failed. The most important thing, she added, is steady enforcement and calm wording, so that children know the limit has not changed. Parents, she said, must also examine their own habits if they want children to take the message seriously. The Mayo Clinic Health System and other parenting guides make the same point: screen limits work best when adults model the behaviour they expect.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
