We do 1 hour max on school nights, 2 hours on weekends. Sounds simple but enforcing it is brutal when he's in full meltdown mode. We use Apple Screen Time but honestly the best tool is just saying no and dealing with the tantrum. My 10 year old fought it hard but after a few weeks he adjusted. Now he actually reads books again. Worth the initial battle.
The enforcing part is real. We do the same limits and my kids will absolutely test it every single day. What helps us is making the rule about what comes next - like 'screen time is done at 6, then we do dinner prep together.' Having something to transition to makes it easier than just shutting it off.
The meltdowns are real, man. We use screen time limits too and the first few weeks were brutal when we had to enforce them. It gets easier once they adjust though, even if it doesn't feel like it in the moment.
1 hour on school nights is solid discipline. The Apple Screen Time tool helps but your consistency is what actually makes it work. Stick with it through the rough patches.
We do similar limits and yeah, brutal is the word. The whining when the timer goes off is something else. But you can tell it's helping their sleep and attitude.
Brutal is right. My strategy is making sure there's something actually fun to do when screen time ends. If they're just bored after, they'll fight harder next time. A project, outdoor time, building something - anything beats them begging for five more minutes.
One hour on school nights is solid. How did you introduce it without it becoming World War III? We're thinking about implementing something like this.
We found that letting them pick which hour they get helps. Gives them some control so they feel less like we're just taking it away.
The enforcing it part is real. My kids will negotiate like lawyers trying to get that extra 30 minutes. What's your move when they push back?
Friday night board game tournament replaces screens at our house. Makes it an event instead of just loss. They actually get excited about non-screen time now.
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Those limits sound solid honestly. The key is you're actually consistent with it. So many parents set limits and don't stick. That's where the real winning happens.