Managing Screen Time and Setting Healthy Boundaries
Kids on their phones at dinner. Endless YouTube spirals. Homework that should take 30 minutes stretching to three hours. Sound familiar? Technology is great, but it helps to have some guardrails.
Apple's Screen Time (Built Into Every iPhone and Mac)
For your own awareness. Even before setting limits, just seeing where your time goes can be eye-opening. Go to Settings > Screen Time to see your weekly reports.
For kids. If your kids are part of your Family Sharing, you can manage their Screen Time remotely from your own device:
- Set daily time limits for specific apps or categories
- Schedule "Downtime" (like no screens after 8pm)
- Block explicit content and limit app purchases
- See what they're using and how long
Beyond Apple: Network-Level Controls
For households with gaming consoles, smart TVs, and devices that aren't Apple, consider router-level controls. Many routers now have parental control features, or you can use services like Circle or OpenDNS to manage internet access for the whole home.
This lets you do things like pause the internet for specific devices during homework time or after bedtime.
The Human Side
Technology controls are a tool, not a solution. The real work is the conversations:
Model what you want to see. If you're on your phone at dinner, it's hard to tell kids to put theirs away.
Create phone-free zones and times. Bedrooms at night, the dinner table, car rides - whatever works for your family.
Focus on replacement, not just restriction. "No screens" works better when there's something else to do.
Connected to the Bigger Picture
Screen Time works best as part of your overall family tech strategy - alongside location sharing for safety and smart home controls that can even turn off WiFi to certain rooms at certain times.
Need Help Getting It Set Up?
Screen Time settings can be confusing, and tech-savvy kids sometimes find workarounds. We can help you set up controls that actually work, on all devices, in a way that makes sense for your family.
Want help with family screen time? We can set up the right controls for your family's situation. Reach out anytime.