When school’s out, those memorable school break routines (or lack of them) get into full swing for families everywhere. Most kids end a semester exhausted, but on a high. Some kids might use the time to get outdoors more, play and explore, or just hang out with friends. But others see school breaks as the perfect opportunity to play couch potato, cuddling up to their device even more than they usually would.
School breaks aren’t always pure downtime: as we need to balance work, family getaways, extra homework, and opportunities for kids to get out and socialize, adding device management into the mix can feel like yet another chore. That’s why it’s often tough for parents to get kids to follow the same routine screen time rules over summer, spring, and winter breaks. Let’s take a look at these top screen time tips to help your family keep tech use balanced when school’s out.
Is it OK to give my child extra screen time over school breaks?
School breaks can be long, and we’re sure that there are several arguments in favor of cramming in a few hours’ extra screen time, both from your kids’ point of view, and yours!
In the grand scheme of things, a bonus screen-time session isn’t going to affect your child’s routine or their wellbeing too much. But screen time is so much more than just a number – it’s about the content they engage with, the platforms they’re using, and maintaining a healthy balance even during downtime.
And a no-screen approach is often unrealistic: some kids may have schoolwork they need to complete over the holiday break, tech is how they stay connected with friends, and educational apps and platforms can help them review and refresh what they’ve learned over the last semester.
How much screen time is best during school breaks?
It’s a good rule of thumb to stick to recommended guidelines on screen time and technology use – as much as is reasonable and possible – but if your family needs to rely a little more on screens during school breaks, safety and balance comes before “time spent”. This can look like:
- Blocking access to certain apps and platforms
- Introducing “study periods” at home where kids can focus on schoolwork
- Prioritizing tech use in common areas, like your living room or a study, rather than in bedrooms
- Giving kids more freedom to explore and roam outdoors or with friends, using tech to keep in touch and stay connected
Daily screen time allowances should adapt to your child’s age. Qustodio’s base recommendations are:
- 0-5 year-olds: 30 minutes
- 6-9 year-olds: 1 hour
- 10-13 year-olds: 2 hours
- 14-18 year-olds: 2 hours, 30 minutes
The key, as with anything, lies in striking the right balance for your family. There’s no hard-and-fast rule for how much screen time is “right”, but when you make your decision, consider your child’s age, your family’s needs, and, importantly, your child’s personality.
Screen time on vacation: what to keep in mind
During holidays, it’s normal that there’s some variance, as there are a million different scenarios. During a family vacation, you might have a day of travel where all “time” rules are off the table, followed by a packed family agenda where not a single screen is even seen for days. So, when thinking about how much you need to limit screen time, consider:
- How your kids are using screens. Are your kids watching a YouTube tutorial before trying out something new, or do they just want to play video games all day long? Intentional use is miles apart from the mindless, endless scroll, so try to promote quality over quantity wherever possible.
- Is the screen time for them or you? Screens can be a way to keep kids constantly engaged and entertained over the school break, especially if you have to work or are busy. But kids also need the opportunity to exercise their self-regulation muscles, and figure out how best to use their time on their own. Giving them some more control in planning out their day, or having some screen-free activities to hand at home can help with this!
Once you understand how, why, and when your kids want to use technology, it’ll be easier to manage screen time and come to a decision over the right amount to offer them across the school break.
6 ways to create better screen time habits for school breaks
1. Avoid using screen time as a bartering tool
Of course, this is easier said than done, but as much as possible, screen time should be treated as a regular activity, rather than a special “treat”. The goal is to build healthy habits, not bargaining chips.
2. Let any guardians know about your screen time rules
If you’re leaving your kids with family members or any other guardians over school breaks, it’s a good idea to lay down a few clear ground rules for how you manage screens and tech. If you have family tech agreements, communicate these to anybody who’s watching over your children during vacation time, or any time of year, for that matter. For example, you might want to let people know if:
- Your child has a device, and how much they can use it
- You don’t use devices at the table, in the car, in bedrooms, or if any other space is out of bounds
- You have a cut-off time for tech use
- There are apps, platforms, or games you don’t let your child use
It can be difficult to enforce a routine when kids are out the house, so consider using a parental control tool to help keep ground rules in place, no matter where they are, or who they’re with.
If your child is spending increased time with a grandparent, a neighbor, or even with your co-parent in a separate household, and you don’t want to share your login details, Qustodio’s additional parent feature can be a great help. This handy tool will let another parent or guardian set rules and receive reports about your kid’s screen time use, meaning you can be sure it’s consistent wherever they are over the school break.
3. Focus on creating the right balance, rather than prohibiting screen time
A complete ban on screens is often unrealistic, especially over school breaks – unless the whole family is sticking to the rules together.
We often focus more on limiting or reducing existing screen time, but by shifting our energy to providing alternatives and giving kids autonomy to explore offline too, we answer the “what should I do instead?” question that’s to be expected when a screen is the easy option.
If you’re stuck for ideas, our pack of low-budget, minimal effort screen-free ideas is a great place to start. Packed with 90 tech-free activities for younger kids, tweens, teens, and the whole family, it’s easy to set up and reach for, and gives alternatives to screens that encourage open play and creativity.
4. Set limits and expectations before screen time starts
If your kids don’t know what their limits are, it’s easy for them to spend longer on screens than you’d like them to. Be clear about what they can and can’t do before a session: “You can watch two TV shows today”, or “You can play Roblox for 30 minutes before lunch” allows them to understand how long they’ve got, and helps you to establish consequences if they overstep these limits.
5. Lay down some basic rules for everyone
Before the break, or just as it’s getting started, revisit the basics of how you’ll manage tech together. Think about things such as:
- Where you’ll keep devices overnight
- Having a common charging station somewhere you all can access and share
- Blocking out screen-free times and making sure everyone’s able to disconnect
- Who kids can come to if they have questions about anything they’ve seen or experienced online
If you have a family tech agreement, take a few moments to review it together and see if any of your regular rules change during the break. If you don’t have one, the break could be the chance to start building your family tech rules. Team these boundaries with regular conversations about the digital world, and checking in on what your kids are interacting with and interested in.
6. Get outside
The great outdoors can be a huge help when it comes to disconnection – both for you, and for your kids. What you’re really working towards is enjoying a time of day where every family member is screen-free, and making the most of time spent together.
If the weather’s not good, don’t worry. Play a board game, make smoothies, or do some arts and crafts. Fun doesn’t always have to be spontaneous. In your daily routine, keep some downtime free for family activities, or time with friends where nobody’s in front of a screen, and you’ll soon look forward to these offline moments together.
Creating a routine where screens feature less and less doesn’t have to be an uphill battle – instead of hard and fast rules, look to building healthier habits for the whole family. Screens and school breaks don’t have to go hand-in-hand, and by promoting intentional use, with clear expectations, you can start to enjoy more of those special family moments together.
