How to Manage Your Kids Screen Time During Holiday Breaks

Holiday break is a fun time for your kids, as most will see it as an opportunity to spend more time in front of their screens. For us parents, it can be a nightmare as our children become more immersed in their devices. From TikTok trends pushing harmful behaviors, to YouTube algorithms that funnel kids into content they’re not ready for, to other “kid-friendly” games like Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft with hidden chatrooms and unfiltered ads, our children are navigating a digital minefield every day. The real issue isn’t just these online plaforms, it’s the culture of constant connection, unsupervised access, and platforms designed to capture and keep our kids’ attention at any cost. Even the safest-looking app can expose children to manipulation, comparison, and exploitation. It's hard enough to monitor these games during the school year, but Holiday break allows kids more access to these platforms. If you want to find a fair balance for your kids between the digital world and the real world, read on. Here's what you need to know:

Start with a Conversation with your kids. Before setting any screen time limits, sit down and have a conversation with your children. Start by discussing why it’s important to create limits and how too much screen time can take away from time spent with loved ones and favorite holiday traditions. Explain that by stepping away from screens, they’ll have more time to play and connect with others, which is what the holidays are all about!

Set Screen Time Limits. Once you have talked with your children about the importance of managing screen time, the next step is to decide on daily limits. These will look different depending on your child’s age. For example, it’s generally recommended that children between the ages of two and five spend about one hour of screen time per day, while older children can spend around two hours. This includes watching TV, playing games or using educational programs. The key is setting realistic, age-appropriate boundaries that work for your family.

Create a Family “Screens Off” Time. Screen time limits work best if the whole family participates. Designate a time each day when everyone, parents included, puts their screens away. This includes phones, tablets, laptops and any other electronic devices. You can have everyone set their devices in a central spot to charge, like the kitchen, and dedicate this time to doing something together. Whether it’s reading a book, playing a board game or going outside for some fresh air, this daily break ensures that your family spends quality time together with no distractions.

Encourage Other Activities. Keeping children engaged with fun, hands-on activities makes it easier to cut down on screen use. If your child is entertained, chances are they won’t feel drawn to electronics. Plan family outings, like visiting holiday festivals, looking at holiday lights, or going to farmers' markets. At home, encourage your child to read holiday stories, create arts and crafts, or help with cooking and wrapping gifts. Not only are these activities fun, but they’re also beneficial to your child’s development. You can also encourage your child to help with chores around the house to occupy their time and teach them responsibility.

Use "Earned Screen Time. Implement a policy where screen time must be "earned" by completing non-screen activities first. Example: "You need to do 60 minutes of reading, outdoor play, or helping a relative before you can have 30 minutes of screen time."

Enforce Consequences (The "Off Switch"). Clearly communicate the consequences for not adhering to the established rules. If your kids refuse to follow the limits or become overly defiant when asked to switch off, the device can be taken away for a set period (e.g., 24 hours). This reinforces that the rules are serious and helps teach accountability and self-regulation.

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About Burton Kelso. Burton Kelso is the Chief Technology Expert at Integral, a computer repair and managed IT services company that for over 30 years has focused on helping people, not just computers, by building relationships and turning bad days into good ones, not just the technology. He is also a Top 2x TEDx Keynote Speaker and Expert on Cybersecurity, AI, and Digital Marketing as well as an On-Air TV Tech Expert appearing on TV and Radio stations all over the globe. He loves technology, he's read all of the manuals and he's serious about making technology fun, safe, and easy to use for everyone.

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