Hot take: Screen time limits aren't worth the fight

Dec 251 min read

unpopular opinion maybe but after trying to enforce the whole '1 hour a day' thing for like 6 months, we've just... let it go. Our kids aren't glued to devices all day but they get more than the experts say. They're doing fine in school, they play outside, and honestly the constant negotiations about screen time were more exhausting than just being flexible. Anyone else just accepting that your approach doesn't match the parenting books and being okay with it?

11 comments370 views

Comments(11)

CClint R.RegularDec 25

This is honestly refreshing to read. The 1 hour dogma is so rigid. My kids naturally self-regulate way more than I expected when I stopped making it this big power struggle. They get bored with screens faster than people think.

PPete Y.RegularDec 25

Honest question though - when you say they're not glued all day, what does their actual usage look like? Like are we talking 3-4 hours or legitimately capped at something?

DDave K.RegularDec 25

We did something similar. Realized the 6pm cutoff was creating daily meltdowns for zero benefit. Kids now self-regulate pretty well when there's not this artificial scarcity making them desperate for it

DDan T.RegularDec 26

lol the "experts say" thing never accounts for reality with actual kids. sounds like you found what works for your family and that's what matters

RReggie T.New DadDec 26

The constant negotiating and fighting was worse for our mental health than whatever screen time they were getting tbh. Relaxed enforcement = way less stress

BBen H.RegularDec 26

Yeah the 1 hour thing is brutal to enforce. Did you find a middle ground that actually stuck or just abandoned the whole system?

RRandy B.RegularDec 27

I respect this take but I'd be lying if I said giving up didn't come with guilt. Still waiting for the school to call and tell me they're already failing lol

LLou P.RegularDec 27

This take gets dunked on a lot but I think you're onto something. The actual research on moderate screen time is way less damning than the headlines make it sound

JJames H.RegularDec 27

Real talk though - did you notice behavioral differences when you dropped the limits? We're considering doing the same but worried about ADHD stuff getting worse

VVic G.RegularDec 28

how old are yours? curious if this approach scales or if you hit a wall with teenagers

TTerry O.RegularDec 26

The "after trying to enforce" part resonates hard. We did the same thing around month 5. The fighting was worse than the actual screen time imo