During the last week of school, I was asked at an event, “What time do you allow your child to use their iPad in the mornings during the summer?” Since this is my first real summer break as a parent, I realized screen time would present a whole new set of challenges.

I started reminiscing about my childhood summers, those long, seemingly endless days when hearing “I’m bored” was met with “go find something to do.” We spent a lot of time playing outside, from pickup basketball games to tackling each other with the football, mixed with the occasional video game.

I once asked a middle school student what they wanted to be when they grew up. Their response was, “a YouTuber.” If this common scenario sounds familiar to you, you’re not alone. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Pediatrics, children ages 8–12 now average 4–6 hours of screen time daily, while teens can reach up to 9 hours. During the summer months, these numbers typically increase by 30 to 40% as structured school days give way to unstructured free time.

But what should those recommended numbers be? The AACAP recommends limiting non-educational screen time to approximately 1 hour per day during weekdays and 3 hours on weekends for children ages 2–5. For older children, it suggests that screens should not interfere with sleep, physical activity or family time.

The statistics about excessive screen time reveal worrying trends. A 2024 study by the National Institutes of Health found that children who exceed the recommended limits for screen time are 58% more likely to experience sleep disruptions. Additionally, these children are more likely to face attention difficulties and have a higher risk of developing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Yet, eliminating screens isn’t realistic or necessarily beneficial, but the goal should be to create sustainable boundaries that work for your family.

Here’s the practical distinction: educational apps that require problem-solving, coding games, or video calls with grandparents count differently than mindless scrolling or binge-watching shows. Many families find success with a 2:1 ratio—for every hour of educational screen time, allow 2 hours of entertainment screen time.

Start by auditing your current situation. Most families are surprised to discover their actual usage patterns. Both iOS and Android devices have screen time tracking tools that provide detailed breakdowns of app usage. Spend a week gathering this baseline data before making any changes.

If your family is starting from a high usage level (6-plus hours daily), don’t go cold turkey. Instead, reduce it by 30 minutes each week until you reach your target. Sudden, dramatic changes typically backfire and create more conflict.

Physical activities, outdoor time and hands-on projects naturally limit screen time. The CDC recommends that children and adolescents 6 to 17 years old need to be physically active for at least 60 minutes daily.

Implement an “earning screen time” approach. Rather than setting random limits, tie screen privileges to completing other activities first. Reading for 30 minutes, engaging in outdoor play, or helping with household tasks can help “unlock” recreational screen time. This creates positive associations rather than constant conflict.

Designate tech-free zones and times. Research from the Sleep Foundation indicates that exposure to screens within one hour of bedtime can delay sleep onset by up to 30 minutes. Creating device-free bedrooms and establishing a family “charging station” in common areas helps develop healthy boundaries.

The American Psychological Association suggests that parents should focus less on strict time limits for screen use and more on ensuring that screen time does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, family time and other essential activities.

Summer presents both opportunities and challenges for families in managing screen time. However, remember that the goal should be progress, not perfection.