How to tackle screen time over the summer holidays

Screens are everywhere. So, instead of banishing them, we think it’s best to create clear boundaries – promoting quality over quantity. Are you with us?

Controversial opinion: not all screen time is bad… Shock! Horror! Shame!

It’s true, though. Playing games, streaming your favorite shows and exploring to find out more about what interests you is fun. Kids love it, and let’s be honest – so do grown-ups.

However, one challenge we have is when five minutes of online time turns into five hours. But don’t lock up the tablet and throw away the key – all that’s required is a bit of a chit chat with your mini-me to explain why some good things are better in small doses. It’s all about that healthy balance…

Should I be worried about my kids’ screen time?

Work, housework, attempting your five-a-day, fitting in 10,000 steps and trying your best to squeeze in making special memories you’ve seen other parents ticking off on social media: the summer holidays can be a lot. In amongst the madness, we know how easy it can be to let the minutes and hours slip by when little ones are engaged with their devices. And then we also know the inevitable impending guilt. Trust us when we say we’re all in the same boat.

The juggle is real, and screen time might be part of striking a balance between keeping your kids happy over the holidays and keeping them active. It’s just one small piece of the puzzle, and can be a tool for both learning and leisure, but one that needs to be carefully juggled to get the best out of it.

What counts as screen time?

Simply put, screen time is any amount of time using any piece of technology with a screen – so that includes TVs, computers, phones and tablets. Even as grown-ups, we know how easy it is to lose track of time spent tapping away, and kids are just as susceptible – so it’s all about empowering and supporting them to understand and control their own use.

How to tackle screen time in a happy, healthy way

Like the majority of things in life, balance is healthy when it comes to screen time, and we’re firm believers at looking at the bright side of most scenarios (tantrums over broccoli aside). Screens aren’t inherently bad and can be a great place to play!

Play is so important for kids because it can help them learn all kinds of crucial skills – from communication and problem solving to storytelling and singing.

We’ve seamlessly combined both learning and play in our Build & Talk series, specially designed for parents to get to grips with the world of online worries. It’s a proactive way to tackle things head on and have fun with your kids at the same time. Check it out!

Three ways to kick-start the conversation with your kids

Nobody likes to feel in control of their own decisions more than a primary school kid being challenged. And really, who can blame them? It feels good to be in charge of your own choices. Problem is, chocolate for breakfast or a four-day-long sleepover aren’t necessarily top picks, so they might need a nudge in the right direction.

To help you kids exercise their independence, here are a few ways to come to an agreement over screen time as a team.

Summer holiday checklist: First up, here’s a fun one. Why not make a holiday checklist of all the things they’d like to do (within reason!) over the six weeks or so of summer? Mostly kids want to spend active playtime with their pals or parents, so they'll most likely list active options like park trips, seaside swims or picnics. Make it fun, write it down, color it in or even make mini LEGO® builds to remind them each day of exciting things out there away from their screens.

Rainy day ideas: Again, we’re not saying devices are bad, getting kids involved in all sorts of online activities can help them learn and play. But, if it’s a – rare – sunny day, we don’t want them inside going square-eyed. Chat to them about sunny day vs rainy day activities, and agree that if the weather is rubbish, maybe then can be a good time to pick up the tablet.

Time limits: Sometimes the most simple things can be the most effective. Ask your kids how long they think would be a good, healthy amount of time to spend on their devices, and try to come to an agreement together for daily limits. If you need to help them understand a little more context about the pros and cons, try out our Build & Talk packs, which offer practical ways for kids to process their understanding of online issues. It can be handy to liken screen time to any treat – explain to them it’s like chocolate, or going to the funfair; they’re nice things to do but we can’t do them every moment of every day!

That’s it, that’s the screen time news, all wrapped up. We hope you’ve found some handy hints to help get you off the ground when it comes to opening up the conversation around healthy use of screens with your kids. You’ve got this!