More connection.
A plan you build together.
Start with curiosity about your child’s online life, then agree on a few changes that fit your family.
Open with a question.
“What do you enjoy most online—and is there anything you wish you spent less time doing?”
Give your child room to answer before offering solutions. Ask them to show you a game, creator, or project they care about. You may discover something you didn’t expect.
Try one shared agreement.
Choose a routine you can practise together, such as a meal without devices. Include the adults, explain the reason, and pick a date to talk about how it went.
Build in flexibility for schoolwork, accessibility needs, and staying in touch with people who matter.
What’s screen time making room for?
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ 5 Cs approach considers the child, content, calming, crowding out, and communication.
Understand the experience.
Consider your child’s needs, what they’re watching or doing, and how it leaves them feeling.
Protect everyday essentials.
Look at whether screen use is displacing sleep, school, movement, or time with other people.
Keep talking.
Revisit the plan as your child grows. Explore more than one way to handle boredom or difficult feelings.
Further reading: AAP: the 5 Cs of media guidance.
When to ask for more support.
If screen use repeatedly interferes with sleep, school, relationships, or family life, speak with your child’s doctor or another qualified health professional. A screen-time total alone does not tell the whole story.
Source: Canadian Paediatric Society: advice for parents of school-aged children and teens.
Screenleaders provides education and conversation tools. Our starter materials are not clinical assessments or treatment plans.
Trusted places to keep learning.
- How to make a family media planAmerican Academy of Pediatrics / HealthyChildren.org
- The 5 Cs of media guidanceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics / HealthyChildren.org
- Screen use and digital mediaCanadian Paediatric Society / Caring for Kids