Screen Time & Our Kids: How to Find the Right Balance

By: Jenny Kim

When I first became a mom, I had this picture in my head—one where my kids grew up on a steady diet of organic snacks, wooden toys, and zero screen time. I thought if I just did it right—no sugary cereals, no iPads at dinner, no YouTube rabbit holes—they’d grow up to be these well-adjusted, emotionally intelligent, model citizens.

Fifteen years and four kids later, I laugh (and maybe cringe) at how naïve that was.

The truth is, screen time is complicated. It can be a lifeline and a landmine. It can buy you ten minutes of peace to make dinner or take a deep breath—and it can also leave you wondering what just happened after your child morphs into a different human post-YouTube binge. I’ve seen both. I’ve lived both.

What I’ve come to realize is that screens themselves aren’t the enemy. But unchecked, unbound screen time? That can slowly chip away at connection, attention spans, even confidence—ours and our children’s. And this isn’t just a kid issue. It’s a family issue. Adults, too, can fall into the doom scroll, the Netflix autopilot, the mindless habit of reaching for a screen every time there's a quiet moment.

In The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt lays out a sobering look at how smartphones and social media are impacting young people today. He highlights rising rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm—deep, real concerns that deserve our attention. I won’t unpack his entire argument here, but I bring it up because it points to something many of us feel in our bones: this is not the childhood we grew up with, and the new rules of parenting in the digital age aren’t always clear.

But here’s the thing—I don’t believe in fear-based parenting. I don’t believe in shame, guilt, or perfection as goals. What I do believe in is resetting. I believe it’s never too late to take a breath, have an honest conversation with our kids (and partners), and start setting screen time expectations that actually reflect our values—not just our survival mode.

Maybe that looks like no phones at the dinner table. Maybe it's deciding that bedtime isn’t negotiable, even if the show isn't over. Maybe it's simply modeling what it looks like to put your phone down mid-scroll and say, “I'm listening.”

We're not going to get it right every day. But if we can shift from guilt to clarity, from chaos to consistency, even in small steps—it can make a world of difference. Not just in how our kids use screens, but in how we all connect, rest, and be together.

There are days when screens feel like a lifesaver. Whether it's keeping the peace while you cook dinner, sneaking in a moment of quiet, or using educational programs to supplement learning, screen time is an unavoidable part of modern parenting. But as screens become more ingrained in daily life, the big question remains: How much is too much?

The Expert-Recommended Guidelines

Let’s be honest—there’s no magic number that works for every family or every kid. But expert guidelines can offer a helpful starting point when you’re trying to make sense of it all.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), here’s what they recommend:

• Ages 0–2: Try to avoid screens altogether—except for video chats with family, which are a great way to stay connected.

• Ages 2–5: Up to one hour per day of high-quality, interactive programming is ideal. Think shows or games that invite movement, problem-solving, or creativity.

• Ages 6 and up (including teens): There’s no strict daily limit, but the focus shifts to balance. That means making sure screen use doesn’t replace sleep, physical activity, schoolwork, family time, or face-to-face socializing.

A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that children under five should not be sedentary for extended periods, including sitting for long stretches watching screens. However, experts also note that not all screen time is created equal—interactive, educational screen time can be beneficial when used appropriately.

For teens especially, the conversation becomes more nuanced. Social media, texting, group chats, and even gaming are part of their social lives. Instead of counting every minute, it’s more helpful to look at the quality of the screen time and how it’s impacting their mood, relationships, and routines.

The bottom line is that every family is different. What matters most is being intentional—checking in with your kids, setting shared expectations, and adjusting as they grow.

The Real Impact of Too Much Screen Time

Too much screen time has been linked to:
Delayed language development in toddlers exposed to excessive passive screen time.
Sleep disturbances, as blue light from screens disrupts melatonin production.
Increased risk of obesity due to inactivity and mindless snacking while watching TV.
Shortened attention spans, especially in younger children with overexposure to fast-paced digital media.

That said, not all screen time is harmful. Studies show that interactive, high-quality programs—especially those watched with parental involvement—can improve language skills, cognitive development, and problem-solving abilities.

Practical Tips for Managing Screen Time in Your Home

Here’s how to create a balanced screen time strategy that works for your family:

✅ Set Clear Boundaries – Establish rules like “No screens before breakfast” or “Tech-free meals and bedtime.”

✅ Encourage Active Screen Time – Opt for educational apps and interactive content instead of passive video watching.

✅ Create Screen-Free Zones – Keep devices out of bedrooms to promote better sleep and encourage face-to-face interactions at the dinner table.

✅ Model Healthy Screen Use – Kids imitate what they see! If you want your child to have better screen habits, set the example yourself.

✅ Use Parental Controls – Tools like Apple’s Screen Time, Google Family Link, and Bark help parents monitor and limit screen time effectively.

Best Products for Healthy Screen Time Management

Looking for tools to help manage your child's screen time? Here are a few parent-approved recommendations:

📌 Blue Light Blocking Glasses for Kids — Protect their eyes from prolonged screen exposure → Shop Now

📌 Echo Show with Parental Control + (Includes 1 Year of Amazon Kids + Subscription) – A kid-friendly smart speaker that answers questions, tells stories, and plays music without needing a screen → Shop Now

📌 Amazon Kids+ Subscription – A safe, ad-free digital space filled with educational books, shows, and games → Shop Now

Join the Conversation! 📢

How do you manage screen time in your home? Are there specific strategies that have worked for your kids? Join the discussion in the Parenthood Together community! → Join the Conversation