Screens can quietly become the default for so many moments in a child’s day: eating breakfast, waiting for an appointment, travelling in the car or filling the time after school. Before we realise it, opportunities to play, talk, move and explore can slip away.
As a mum, I want my children to enjoy the world around them—to invent games, notice small things, build friendships and discover what they can do. That takes time and space in their day, and sometimes it means putting firmer boundaries around screens.
If you’re wondering how to limit screen time for kids, start with a few clear routines and appealing things to do when the devices are put away. Children may need help adjusting, especially when screens have become a familiar part of everyday life.
These 10 practical tips to reduce screen time will help you set boundaries, prepare for switching off and make more room for play, connection and everyday childhood experiences.
For more on why these changes matter, read about the harmful effects of too much screen time for kids.
How Much Screen Time Is Recommended for Kids?
Your child’s age is a useful starting point when setting screen-time limits. Australian Government guidance recommends:
- Under 2 years: No sedentary screen time, such as watching television or videos.
- Ages 2–4: No more than one hour of sedentary screen time a day; less is better.
- Ages 5–17: No more than two hours of sedentary recreational screen time a day, excluding schoolwork.
These are upper limits, not amounts children need to use each day. You can set lower limits that suit your family.
Sources: Australian Government guidance for children from birth to 5 years and guidance for children and young people aged 5–17.
Also consider what your child watches, when they use screens and what that time replaces. Even within a daily limit, screens should not crowd out sleep, active play, reading, learning or time with other people.
If your child currently uses screens much more than you would like, begin with a clear, manageable change. You might make meals screen-free or replace one regular viewing session with outdoor play. Explain the new routine and follow through consistently.
The Australian eSafety Commissioner also encourages families to consider children’s overall wellbeing, the content they use and their balance of online and offline activities.
What Does Limiting Screen Time for Kids Mean?
Limiting screen time means setting clear boundaries around when, where and how your child uses devices, while protecting time for the other things they need.
Start by noticing your family’s current habits. Include television, tablets, phones, computers and gaming consoles. Short sessions can add up, especially when screens appear at meals, during journeys and between activities.
Separate recreational use from schoolwork so you can see where changes are possible. If your child needs a device for communication or accessibility, account for those needs when planning your family’s rules.
Then decide what you want to make room for: outdoor play, books, hobbies, friendships, family conversations and a calm bedtime routine.
A clear boundary sounds like “We’ll watch one episode after lunch, then turn the television off,” rather than “Don’t watch too much.” Agree on the stopping point before the screen goes on, and help your child move into the next activity.
You can offer choices within that boundary such as which programme to watch or what to play afterwards, while keeping responsibility for the limit yourself.
The following ten tips will help you put these boundaries into everyday practice.
1. Explain Why You’re Setting Screen-Time Limits
Talk about the new rules at a calm moment, before your child is absorbed in a game or programme. Keep your explanation simple and suited to their age.
For a younger child, you might say: “We’re putting the tablet away after this episode so we have time to play outside before dinner.”
With an older child, discuss what you’ve noticed: “Gaming has been pushing bedtime later. We’re changing the evening routine so there’s enough time to finish, get ready and sleep.”
Focus on specific habits and what needs to change. Avoid calling your child “addicted” or using frightening claims to persuade them.
Ask what they enjoy about their screen time, too. Understanding whether they love a particular story, creative game or time with friends can help you plan a suitable stopping point and appealing activities afterwards.
Listen to their suggestions, then state the boundary clearly. Children can have a voice in the plan while parents remain responsible for setting limits.
For further guidance, see the Australian eSafety Commissioner’s advice on helping children manage screen time.
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2. Model the Screen Habits You Want Your Children to Learn
Children notice when we reach for our phones during meals, conversations or every quiet moment. Our everyday habits help show them what a place for screens in family life can look like.
Choose a few routines you can follow together: phones away at meals, devices put aside during family games and full attention when someone is speaking.
When you need your phone for work or a practical task, explain briefly: “I’m replying to a work message, then I’m putting it away.” This helps children understand why you are using it and when you will finish.
Make your own boundaries easier to keep. Silence unnecessary notifications, leave your phone out of reach during play and use a shared charging spot when devices are finished for the evening.
You don’t need to hide every moment of screen use. Let your children see you make deliberate choices—and correct yourself when needed: “I’ve been scrolling longer than I intended. I’m putting my phone down now.”
The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network includes parental role modelling among its tips for reducing children’s screen time.
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3. Secure Devices and Set Up Parental Controls
Make sure your child cannot pick up a device and start watching or playing whenever it is within reach. Use a secure passcode on your own phone or tablet, and keep devices in a designated place when they are not in use.
On devices your child uses, explore the built-in parental controls. Depending on the device, these may let you:
- Set daily app limits or scheduled downtime.
- Require approval for downloads and purchases.
- Restrict access to age-inappropriate content.
- Manage which apps and websites your child can use.
Keep the parental-control passcode separate from the code your child uses to unlock their device. Review the settings occasionally to check that they still work as intended.
Explain the controls openly: “These settings help us stick to our screen-time plan and choose things that are suitable for your age.”
Technical settings support your rules, but they cannot replace conversations, supervision or a clear stopping routine. No filter catches every unsuitable piece of content.
For help choosing and setting up these tools, visit the Australian eSafety Commissioner’s guide to parental controls.
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4. Make Time to Play Together
Putting a device away is easier when your child knows what they can do next. Sometimes a few minutes of playing together can help them get started.
Build a tower, kick a ball, draw a funny creature or set up a pretend shop. Follow an interest your child already has: a favourite game about building might inspire a cardboard construction, while an animal programme could lead to making a toy wildlife park.
You don’t have to entertain your child throughout every screen-free moment. Begin an activity together, then give them room to continue independently when they are ready.
Keep a few options easy to reach, such as blocks, drawing supplies, books, puzzles or dress-up clothes. Invite your child to help choose what goes out so the alternatives feel like their own.
Make outdoor play part of the routine, too. A trip to the park, a garden treasure hunt or a walk with something to spot can give everyone a change of scene.
Your child may still ask for the screen. Acknowledge the request, keep the boundary and help them choose their next step: “The tablet is finished for today. Would you like to build something or come outside with me?”
For more ideas, explore our screen-free after-school activities for kids.
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5. Make Printed Books an Easy Screen-Free Choice
Keep printed books within reach so reading becomes an easy option when a screen session ends. A small basket beside the sofa or a regular library visit can help your child find something that interests them.
Let them choose from picture books, comics, joke books, stories or books about a favourite subject. Reading together counts, too—you can take turns, explore the illustrations or talk about what might happen next.
If your child usually reads on a device, replace one regular session with a printed book, especially during the bedtime routine. This creates an opportunity to put devices away and settle down together.
E-books and audiobooks can also support reading and accessibility. Choose the format that meets your child’s needs, and keep notifications, games and unrelated apps from interrupting reading time.
Try a simple invitation: “Choose a book and we’ll read together for ten minutes.” Keep it a welcoming part of the day rather than a task your child must complete to earn more screen time.
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6. Set a Consistent Screen-Free Bedtime Routine
Choose a clear time for recreational screens to finish each evening. The Australian eSafety Commissioner recommends switching screens off at least one hour before planned bedtime.
Work backwards from when your child needs to sleep. If bedtime is 8 pm, for example, aim to finish television, videos and gaming by 7 pm.
Explain the routine before the evening begins. Give a reminder as switching-off time approaches, and choose programmes or games that can finish within the available time. Turn off autoplay where possible.
Afterwards, move into a familiar sequence: a bath or wash, pyjamas, preparing for tomorrow, reading and a quiet conversation.
Keep phones, tablets and gaming devices out of bedrooms overnight. A shared charging spot helps make this a household routine.
If your child protests, acknowledge their disappointment while keeping the limit: “I know you wanted to keep watching. Screens are finished for tonight. Would you like to choose our book?”
Changing a familiar habit can take time. Stay calm and consistent, offer comfort when needed, and adjust the routine if a particular transition is repeatedly difficult. There is no fixed number of nights in which every child will settle into a new habit.
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7. Create Screen-Free Times and Places
Choose a few parts of family life where devices are routinely put away. Meals, family conversations and bedrooms overnight are useful places to start.
Make the rules specific so everyone knows what to expect:
- Phones and tablets stay away from the dining table.
- The television is off during meals.
- Devices are put aside for family games and shared activities.
- Phones and tablets charge outside bedrooms overnight.
Include adults in the shared rules. A basket or charging shelf gives everyone somewhere to leave their devices.
If screens have become part of every meal, prepare your child for the change. Explain the new routine beforehand and offer conversation or a chance to help set the table. They may need time and support to adjust.
Turn off background television when nobody is deliberately watching it, too. Finishing a programme should have a clear endpoint rather than leading automatically into the next one.
The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network recommends screen-free zones and planned screen-free times to help families manage device use and make room for other activities.
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8. Stay Involved in What Your Child Watches and Plays
Knowing what your child does on a device helps you set useful boundaries. Ask them to show you their favourite programmes, games and apps, and spend some time exploring these together.
Check age ratings, but also look at the experience itself. Does it include advertising, in-app purchases, contact with strangers or an endless stream of suggested videos? Can your child pause or stop it easily?
Agree on what they will use before the session begins. Choosing a particular programme or activity gives screen time a clearer purpose and endpoint than unrestricted browsing.
For younger children, stay nearby and use devices in shared spaces. With older children, explain how you will supervise their use and review the arrangements as they grow.
Teach your child what to do if something feels frightening, confusing or inappropriate: stop, put the device down and tell a trusted adult. Reassure them that asking for help will not get them into trouble.
For further guidance, visit the Australian eSafety Commissioner’s advice on helping children stay safe online.
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9. Use Screen-Time Reports to Support Your Family’s Plan
Check the screen-time tools already built into your family’s devices before downloading another app. They can help you see which activities take the most time and when use tends to increase.
Look at the reports together where appropriate. You might notice that short video sessions add up, or that one game regularly runs into bedtime. Remember to include television and gaming consoles, which may not appear in a phone or tablet report.
Use this information to choose a practical change, such as limiting a particular app, turning off unnecessary notifications or scheduling downtime before bed.
Explain any monitoring or limits openly. You might say: “We’re checking how much time goes into videos so we can make our afternoon plan work.”
If you decide to use a separate parental-control app, check its privacy policy, permissions, costs and suitability for your child’s device. Avoid tools that collect more information than your family needs.
A report or timer can support your rules, but you will still need to explain the boundary and help your child follow it. For more information, see the Australian eSafety Commissioner’s guide to parental controls.
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10. Give Your Child Choices Within Clear Limits
Offer your child some control over their screen time while keeping responsibility for the boundaries yourself.
For a younger child, this might mean choosing between two suitable programmes. An older child could help decide when their agreed recreational screen time fits around homework, family plans and bedtime.
Agree on the endpoint before the device goes on. For example: “You can watch this episode, then we’re switching off,” or “You have twenty minutes to play, so choose something you can finish or save.”
Give a reminder before time is up. If a game needs saving, allow for that within the planned session. Turn off autoplay where possible, and invite your child to press the off button themselves.
Offer a choice about what comes next: “Would you like to draw or ride your scooter?” A clear next step can help with the transition.
Your child may feel disappointed even when the rule is familiar. Acknowledge the feeling and follow through calmly: “I know you want more time. We’ve finished for today.”
Review your plan occasionally as your child’s needs and routines change. The Australian eSafety Commissioner encourages involving children in a family plan with fair, consistent boundaries.
Start with One Change You Can Keep
Choose one screen-time habit to change first. You might put devices away during meals, finish screens an hour before bed or replace a regular viewing session with outdoor play.
Explain what will happen, prepare an alternative and follow through calmly. Once that routine feels familiar, build on it.
Children may need help moving away from screens, especially when those habits are well established. You can acknowledge their disappointment while keeping a clear boundary.
The aim is to make room for the experiences that fill a childhood: building, reading, exploring, talking, moving and spending time together.
Which screen-free routine has worked well in your home? Share your ideas in the comments.
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