21 Best Tips to Limit Screen Time

Putting energy into turning off screens at home to limit screen time can seem complex and too difficult to implement. This is especially true if you’re already stressed out and overwhelmed.

When I was exhausted all the time, it was too easy for me to turn on the TV to entertain my kids. I wanted more connection with them, and I knew their behavioral issues were likely linked to the high amount of screen time, but I didn’t know where to start. Eventually, after using these tips, I got to where TV is a treat that we watch only here and there, rather than a norm. Read below to see what I did.

What is too much screen time?

The AAP says “Today’s children are spending an average of seven hours a day on entertainment media, including televisions, computers, phones and other electronic devices.” Screen time is broken down according to the American Academy of Pediatrics as follows:

Age	Screen Time Recommendations	Comments
Less than 18 months	None	No screen time. Learning is best with interactive play from other people
18-24 months	None/Very Limited	Children can learn from high quality programming if it is viewed with a parent/caregiver and interacted with. Solo viewing should be avoided
2-5 years	Less than 1 hour per day	Choose media that is interactive, nonviolent, educational, and pro-social.

Why does too much screen time happen?

It’s easy to let screen time get out of control. Flipping the switch on the TV or handing our child a tablet is so much easier than listening to them whine about not having screen time.

We are also busier than ever and have so much we are trying to get done in a single day. TV is an easy way to distract your child so you can get more pressing things done.

Before long, it becomes a habit that we turn to and our children crave more of. The brain releases dopamine hits when your child is engaged in screen time play, but it doesn’t mean it’s good for your child.

Cortisol is also released and the activity often leaves your children feeling drained rather than energized. This makes it difficult for them to regulate their emotions resulting in more meltdowns and louder demands for more screen time. And thus the cycle continues.

This was the cycle I was swimming in with no clue how to fix. These simple tips are what I finally did to get out of that rut.

21 Best Tips to Limit Screen Time

Are you ready to get out of the cycle of screen time and meltdowns with your child? Read ahead to learn more.

Tip 1: Have engaging toys in easy to reach places

Humans are wired to turn to what is easy. Make the toys you want your kids to engage with easy to get to. I have innovation stations in my home. There are 4 areas within my upstairs with small baskets of engaging toys (think blocks, arts, etc). I call them innovation stations and they encourage independent play.

Keep the toys age appropriate and if you need to, rotate them to keep them fresh.

Tip 2: Limit the number of toys you have accessible

If you have totes and totes of toys that are stuffed full and hard to get to, your child will be overwhelmed with choices and will opt out of playing with any of them.

Even adults get overwhelmed with too many choices. Just read here about how having more jam choices at the store resulted in less jam bought.

Tip 3: Hide the remote/tablets/etc

The book Atomic Habits sums up this point well. “Sometimes success is less about making good habits easy and more about making bad habits hard.”

If screen time is a habit you want to change, make it harder to turn to the screens. Hiding them limits access to them. This makes you have to think twice before you turn them.

Tip 4: Unplug the TV and/or take batteries out

This is the same concept of the earlier point. Doing this makes it harder to engage in screens. The harder it is to turn to the screens, the less you’ll turn to them over time. You have to really want to use the TV after taking this step.

Tip 5: Figure out what triggers the need for screens

When I was trying to figure out how to limit screen time in my house, I had to do an internal inventory to figure out what it was that was triggering the habit to turn on the TV. It came down to the following:

• Feeling overwhelmed/exhausted
• Being overstimulated myself
• Having too much on my todo list
• Not having enough child-friendly tasks on my todo list
• Wanting to veg out on my phone also
• Having emotional needs that weren’t being met
• Feeling unappreciated at home

There are more, but you get the idea. The “need” to turn the TV could stem from several different things. Take the time to evaluate. You’ll find different situations cause differing needs.

Tip 6: Get down on your kid’s level

When you are feeling overstimulated and exhausted, the last thing we think about doing is putting energy into bending down and getting on our kids level. This is an important step. When our kids are whiny, clingy, or needy, they are expressing internal needs of lack of connection.

Get down on their level. Whisper to them. Give them a big hug. Tease them with something and then redirect them to their toys or other activities rather than to screens.

• We are using H3 headers for each list item to provide a hierarchy and natural flow to the article
• Use short paragraphs when answering
• Bullet points also work great
• This is not a complete guide for each tip, but an intro
• Over time you can create a complete guide dedicated to that single tip, and link to the guides from this post!
• I like using illustrations and images to break up the monotony of a long list post.

Tip 7: Turn on Music and Be Silly

We are too serious in our day-to-day. I turn to screens when the seriousness of the day has worn me out. Instead, if I turn on some music and dance or sing with my kids, it works out that festering negative energy and leaves me feeling energized. Try it! You’ll be amazed at how well it works.

Tip 8: Schedule out other activities

Create a plan. We all know if we fail to plan, we plan to fail. Therefore, if you want to limit screen time and change the routines in your home, you need to replace it with a plan. Try a “Do this” instead of that plan.

Tip 9: Make a list of what you can do

I finally made a list of playful activities I can do with my kids. This makes it easier when my brain is fried. I don’t have to think up something new, I just refer to my list and choose something off of it. Think of 4 to 5 things you enjoy doing with your kids.

Here are some ideas:

• Dance to music
• Sing a silly song
• Read a book
• Play horsies / kitties / pretend

Tip 10: Take an inventory of how much screen time you are currently using

You may be using more than you think you are. Take an inventory and then work from there to improve. You never know how good or bad you are doing in this area until you take an inventory.

Tip 11: Take an inventory of how much time you spend outside

It’s been said that the average kid spends 1000 hours a year on a screen. What if we spent 1000 hours outside instead? If you want to make it a priority, start tracking the time your kids spend outside. Outdoors has been proven to reduce stress and have several great health benefits.

Tip 12: Take on a project your kids can help with

Kids can learn a lot by working with you. Set small goals for a project. Say “I’m going to work on this for 15 minutes before I turn on the screens.” Then follow through.

Tip 13: Set Non-negotiables

Decide for yourself and your family what non-negotiables make sense for you. Maybe the rule is no tablets before school. Or No TV on weekends. Whatever it is, make sure you keep your word and stick to it. Having these rules will help you limit screen time.

Tip 14: Have chores that need completed before screens

This is a great way to incentivize chores. Make sure rooms are cleaned or dishes are done. Stick to the rules and then sit back and enjoy a cleaner house. Screens are a great reward system.

Tip 15: Set a timer on screens when you do allow them.

Having an expectation of how long the screens will be allowed to be played will help when it is time to turn them off.

Tip 16: Give a 5 minute warning before switching screens off

Warnings help kids switch tasks easier and again give them a chance to know what to expect.

Tip 17: Communicate the plan for after screens are turned off

When you do allow screens, after you’ve let your children know how long they will be on for, let them know the plan for after the screens as well. The plan could be “free time” with their toys, but this might be hard after such an engaging experience on screens. Instead, try to have a solid plan that has a set beginning and end.

For example, tell your child after screen time that you will eat dinner, change into pajamas and read a story. This lets them know the tasks afterward and how long approximately it will take.

Tip 18: Know why you want to limit screen time

Spend time researching why you should limit screen time. Decide for your family why limiting screen time matters. Create a vision of what you’d like to see your family dynamic look like and then work on achieving it. Here are some helpful sites you may enjoy learning more about.

Tip 19: Get your family on board with your vision

Make sure you and your spouse at the very least agree on the plan moving forward. Your kids may disagree about limiting screen time, but you can get them to buy in by helping them think of other fun things they may like to experience. Maybe they’d like to hike more? Maybe they’d like to paint more? Whatever it is, let them know the time spent offline will be well worth it.

Tip 20: Know it’s worth it

Living life offline is well worth it. Your experiences will be richer. Memories will be stronger. Lastly, your overall happiness will improve.

Tip 21: Just do it

If you don’t know how to get started, realize that just starting wherever you can is the best option. You don’t have to have each of these tips mastered in order to succeed at less screen time. Give different ideas a try and do what works best for you. In the end, you’ll be happy you did.

Conclusion

Taking the first step to limit screen time is the hardest. Make a plan, decide why it’s important, and then do it. Limiting screen time will help your children be more creative and innovative which has quite a few benefits. Comment below things that have helped you spend less time on screens!