Screen time
Limits, turning off, transitions away from screens
The meltdown when it's time to turn it off. The negotiation for "just five more minutes." The glazed look that worries you. Screen time is hard because nothing else competes with it - and transitions away from it are uniquely difficult.
What to Know
Screens are hard because nothing else competes with them. The instant gratification, the constant stimulation, the perfectly calibrated engagement — other activities feel boring by comparison. This isn't a character flaw in your child. It's how screens are designed.
The transition away from screens is uniquely difficult because it requires moving from high stimulation to lower stimulation. The brain has to downshift, and that's uncomfortable. This is why the meltdown when screens turn off is often bigger than meltdowns over other transitions.
Rigid screen rules often backfire because they turn screens into forbidden fruit. But no limits also doesn't work. What helps: clear, consistent boundaries; transition warnings; and making sure kids have engaging alternatives, not just "go play."
Signs to Watch
- •Melts down when screen time ends
- •Has difficulty transitioning to other activities after screens
- •Seems unable to stop on their own
- •Sneaks screens or lies about usage
- •Shows significant mood changes related to screens
- •Has lost interest in non-screen activities
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