By Megan Shaw, Social-Emotional Support Counselor, Rowland Hall Middle School

School breaks are a great time to ease routines and structure for kids—but that doesn’t mean they should fill their extra time with screens.

Setting limits to online time is one of the best ways to help students recharge during a school break.

In fact, setting limits to online time is one of the best ways to help students recharge during a school break. It improves physical health by allowing for better sleep quality, and it improves mental health (for example, people who pause social media use report feeling less anxious and experiencing better moods in general).

Focusing on family connections, improved sleep, reduced stress and anxiety, and more quality time are all beneficial reasons to talk with your child about putting down the screens over break. Below are a few tips that will help your family successfully pause screen time.

Start by disabling notifications.

Device notifications are one of the quickest ways we get sucked back into a screen—they’re incredibly distracting. By taking the time to turn off notifications, you’ll greatly reduce the temptation to pick up a phone, tablet, or other device.

Set time limits as a family.

As a parent or caregiver, it is important to model behavior for your child. If everyone commits to less time in front of a screen, there is more likelihood of success. Plus, having conversations as a family about how you want to approach screen time will lead to better buy-in from everyone. Try making a family media plan, and be sure to refer to (and update) it often.

Plan alternative activities.

Fill what would have been used as screen time with moments of connection. Head for the mountains, take the dogs for a walk, or play a board or card game. Be sure to keep in mind the moments when you know the temptation to be on a screen is strongest—for example, plan a group activity, such as a family walk, for after dinner, or bring a book to a waiting room.

Partner with other families.

Kids (and adults, for that matter!) can feel real FOMO when screen time is limited. Make it easier on kids by connecting with families who are also committed to screen-free time. Reach out to parents in your child's friend group to establish norms and expectations around screen usage, as well as to find times for your children to hang out in person during screen breaks.

Talk about it.

Don’t expect children to make changes on their own. Talk about it as a family and emphasize why it’s important to you. Help your child understand the benefits of taking screen breaks (and limiting their daily use when they’re not on break), including why it helps them get better sleep or experience less stress and anxiety. And be sure to welcome your child’s questions and ideas.

Want to learn more? Check out The PrinciPALS Podcast episode on screen time.

About Megan Shaw
Megan Shaw is a licensed clinical social worker who is passionate about helping students grow into their best selves. Prior to becoming a counselor, Megan was a middle school math and science teacher, an assistant dean, and a yoga teacher.

Social-Emotional Learning