Overwhelmed by Screen Time? You’re Not Alone
"Parents constantly tell me how exhausting it is to manage screen time and how tired they are of competing with screens for their kids’ attention. It feels impossible to manage—because it is. Screens are everywhere." - Katherine Saltzberg
Screen time is the number one problem for nearly every parent I work with. It feels impossible to manage—unless you’re Amish or part of some ultra-religious community, and even they aren't completely immune. Maybe you're one of the brave few who opted for the talk-and-text-only option, despite peer pressure from other parents and desperate pleas from your kids. But for the rest of us? It’s a nonstop battle.
Parents constantly tell me how exhausting it is to manage screen time and how tired they are of competing with screens for their kids’ attention—nagging them to get off, wondering if they’re actually doing schoolwork on their Chromebook or just chatting with friends.
Maybe your little ones are glued to a screen before school, after school, and right up until dinner—just so you can cook a meal in peace. Then it’s bath, bed, a story, and maybe even more screen time because “it’s the only thing that calms them down,” as a new client recently confided. It feels impossible to manage because it is. Screens are everywhere.
Our kids go from screens at school to screens at home. How do you even measure it? You don’t. You can’t. It’s like trying to hold water in a sieve.
So what do you do?
A good place to start: Media-Free Zones
Here’s what has worked for many of my clients: set up media-free zones in your home. These two “No” zones can dramatically improve your child’s mental, physical, and social health:
No media in the bedroom. None. And yes, this includes the phone they use as an alarm. (Spoiler: Get them an alarm clock!) Phones in the bedroom mean distractions, notifications all night, and no real sleep. Phones go to a charging station outside their room at night.
No media at the dining table. This is the time for real face-to-face connection. You’ll be surprised—kids eventually like it. My clients who’ve been consistent with this are forever grateful. Their kids even admit they enjoy dinners without devices. And yes, this means you have to put your phone down, too.
The "Know" Zones
Know how much they crave your attention. Even when they act like they don’t care if you’re on your phone or not, the second you put it down and engage with them, they notice. One of the biggest complaints from kids today is that their parents are always on their phones. When they’re present, give them your presence.
Know where they are online. Just like you need to know where your kids are going in real life, you need to know what’s happening online. There are healthy, non-invasive ways to do this that keep you informed, protect your kids, and build trust.
Whether you’ve got a toddler or a teen, your kids need time off their devices. They need to be bored. They need to daydream. They need to connect with other people! And they need your help to make it happen. That’s where I come in. I’ll help you create media-free zones and give you the tools to stay consistent with them—so your kids can have the childhood they deserve.
Here’s a must-watch video by Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation: Jonathan Haidt Video It’s heartbreaking what’s happened to our kids, but we have the power to change it.
Start now. Whether you’re aiming to cut down screen time or hold firm on not giving your teen a phone until high school, schedule a call with me today. Your child’s mental health can’t wait—and neither can yours.
Ready to make a change? Schedule a call with me today!
