How to manage screen time, temper tantrums

Jenny Radesky, MD, FAAP, Tribune News Service

Are you concerned about the time your child spends on digital devices? If so, you’re hardly alone. Many parents and caregivers worry that screen time is taking over their child’s day (and night), crowding out other activities they need for good health. It helps to create a family media plan to set healthy digital habits. You may decide you want to cut back on the amount of time kids spend gaming, surfing the net or watching videos. But that doesn’t fully address the temper tantrums that often result when it’s time to stop. Children may scream, cry or even fight back physically when they’re asked to turn off their devices. (We’ve all witnessed the battles that happen when parents try to take a tablet away from a preschooler or engage older children in conversation when they’re still immersed in an online game.)

These meltdowns can disrupt everyone’s day, eventually turning into power struggles that move you further from your goal of balanced, healthy tech use. Temper tantrums reveal that your child is finding it impossible in the moment to cope with these emotions. Even teens can become angry, sullen and defiant when they’re asked to step away from digital media. If you’ve ever lost your own temper when your child melted down over tech limits, forgive yourself. We’re all learning how to cope with these new and evolving challenges.

Here are suggestions for preventing conflict by working out agreements that all family members can follow.

Toddlers and preschoolers already know they can’t eat ice cream at every meal or spend all their time playing with a single toy. A healthy life requires balance and variety. You can build on this concept when you talk about screen time.

Talk about the fact that people and families need time for work, school, conversation, meals, exercise and rest. Digital technology is part of our lives, but it can’t steal time from other healthy activities.

Adapt this conversation for your child’s age and level of understanding. Give older children and teens the chance to share their perspectives, too. Listen without judgment. You’ll want to make room for what each family member has to say while being clear that life balance is the ultimate goal.

Turn the conversation into a shared plan. Children and teens find it easier to accept tech limits when there are common-sense rules in place, especially if they have a voice in creating them.

Your plan will reflect your needs and lifestyle, defining which kinds of content are OK for kids and which are off-limits. You can specify times when digital devices must be put away — for example, during meals, family outings or conversations.

Emphasize that the rules are for everyone.

Kids of all ages will resent limits that adults don’t follow themselves. If you find yourself glancing at your phone or tablet constantly when you’re with your kids, reconsider your habits. When you make a mistake, simply acknowledge it and reconnect with your child. “Please forgive me for texting just now. Let me put my phone away so we can talk.”

All that said, no two children are alike. If you’ve found warnings are useful for your child, consider using a timer they set themselves. This models the idea of self-regulation and helps kids feel more in control. Kids can benefit from having a spot where they can go to calm down. This might be a quiet corner in the family room, a bedroom nook or any other place where they feel safe. If your child starts to rage when screen time ends, ask them to go to their quiet spot until they feel better. If necessary, gently pick up a younger child or lead them by the hand. Tell them you’ll be glad to see them again when they’re ready to reconnect.

If your child is acting out physically, don’t keep the tantrum going by suggesting they punch a pillow (or anything else). Studies show it’s more effective to guide your child toward something that burns physical energy, but has a simple focus. For example, researchers found that tossing a pillow in the air and challenging kids to bat it in a new direction helped work off momentary tension. At times, older kids may resist tech limits even more fiercely than younger ones. This might call for different strategies that track closely with your child’s personality and interests. You could offer to join them for a quick run, a few minutes shooting baskets or a frisbee session in the park. If they love music, let your teen take over the smart speaker with a 5-minute blast of their favorite track (dancing optional).