Daily Tips for Families

Today's Tip for Families

2026-04-06

Plan Ahead to Keep Screen Use Positive

Experts agree that children need plenty of screen-free time for reading, schoolwork, exercise, play, family time and relaxing. But in a time when screens are a big part of everyday life, how can you go about keeping your child's screen use in balance?

Here are a few simple ideas:

Think in terms of screen activities, rather than screen time. There are many positive ways to use screen media to help your child learn. There are also many passive screen activities that in large quantities can negatively affect your child's health and learning. Choose your child's activities wisely.
Plan ahead. Decide in advance which screen activities your child may do in the coming week, and for how long.
Post a schedule. Each week sit down with your child. Together, make a chart of screen activities for the coming week.
Use and charge devices outside your child’s bedroom. Children who do not have TVs in their rooms spend almost 40 fewer minutes each day watching TV. Children also need to sleep at night, not play on a phone, tablet or computer.
Eat dinner as a family and keep devices turned off during the meal. Children who regularly have dinner with their families spend a half hour less watching screens each day. Establish other screen-free times of day, such as the hour before bedtime.
Expect your child to complete schoolwork and other responsibilities before engaging in recreational screen activities.
Hide the controls. A child who can’t find the controller, the mouse or the remote may read, play board games or get some exercise.
Think about times when you rely on screens to entertain your child. For example, in some families, TV keeps kids busy while dinner is cooking. If you sometimes use screens as a babysitter while preparing meals, try doing some advance preparation instead. Or, ask your child to help you cook.
Be patient. Turning screens off may provoke some whining, but your child will find something else to do.

Brought to you by:

West Point Consolidated School District