Should Parents Limit Screen Time for Kids? Learn Pros & Cons

As digital parents, we’re often caught between conflicting headlines in our everyday realities, raising digital natives. 

One moment, screens are framed as harmful; the next, they’re hailed as educational powerhouses. Meanwhile, we just want to make dinner in peace and maybe feel a little less guilty about putting on an episode of their favorite cartoon.

When we cut through all the noise, where do we land? Should we, as parents, limit screen time for kids?

Cue the standard (but accurate) short answer: It depends.

The longer answer? It’s not about how much to limit screen time — it’s more plainly about how. It's time to reframe this debate. 

With the help of research-backed insights and everyday strategies, let’s walk through some of the pros, cons, and practical takeaways for setting thoughtful screen time boundaries (without shame, nightly battles, or unrealistic goals).

A New Way to Think About Screen Time Limits

Parents often feel guilty or uncertain about screen time. Without clear information, it’s easy to worry we’re doing something wrong — especially when we use screens as a tool to occupy our kids while we work, clean, or recharge (we all do it). But let’s be clear: that’s not a sign of failure. That’s just part of parenting in the 21st century.

Hear me out:

• Sometimes you just need to make dinner.
• Sometimes you have to take a phone call outside of office hours.
• Sometimes, you just need five minutes of someone not calling your name (I know that’s not just me!).

These are all completely normal reasons to need a quick break — and screens can be a tool for that. Before screens, parents used other tools for the same purpose. 

My father told me many stories of his parents giving him the old, “Go outside and don’t come home until it’s dark” method. When I was a kid, it was, “Go to your room and find something to do.” 

Are these options better than screens? Perhaps in some ways. When my father was outside, he was getting fresh air, playing with neighborhood friends, and being creative. In my room, I was reading a book or doing a craft. But wait — all of those things can also happen for our kids while using screens. 

Maybe these generationally different techniques aren’t so functionally different, after all. 

Let’s move away from fear and judgment and focus on balance, context, and intention. We’re not here to restrict or eliminate screens. We’re here to guide, support, and build skills for healthy digital lives. 

Screens are not a glaring threat to our kids’ wellbeing, and they’re not just a treat — they’re a tool for today’s digital parents. 

The Case for Screen Time Limits: Teaching Self-Regulation

Even the most beneficial tools need limits. Like food, sleep, or even water, too much of anything can become a problem. That’s why we like to think of screens as part of a digital diet that balances variety, moderation, and nutrition.

Some reasons to thoughtfully limit screen time for kids include:

• Young kids need scaffolding
  Time is an abstract concept for younger children. Limits help them learn what five minutes feels like and how to transition between activities, which is a topic I have discussed in more detail before.
• Screen time can have unintended consequences, especially at night
  Using a screen close to bedtime can disrupt natural sleep cycles, impacting melatonin production. This is important to keep in mind if they are asking to watch just one more show or play one more round of their favorite game close to the end of the day.
• Prolonged screen time can strain your eyes, neck, and shoulders 
  Eye strain is a real concern when it comes to screens. This can lead to headaches, eye tiredness, and even blurry vision. This is why regular breaks are recommended. The use of screens can also contribute to strains on your neck and shoulders, depending on how it’s held and how the body is positioned. 
• Sometimes we just need to be bored 
  Undoubtedly, the things we do on our screens are fun but there is also value in being bored. Boredom is a powerful source of creativity and self-discovery. 

Parents also want to be cautious of using screen time as a way to avoid difficult conversations or uncomfortable emotions. Screen time as a tool for short-term, purpose-driven distraction is fine. But when screens become an escape from dealing with feelings or navigating challenging situations, it may be time to reassess.

The Case Against Strict Screen Limits: Flexibility for Modern Life

Screens aren’t going anywhere. They’re part of how kids learn, connect, and create. The idea that all screen time is harmful oversimplifies the reality. Reading an eBook is screen time. So is drawing digital art, video chatting with grandparents, and solving math puzzles on an app. We learn life skills through digital play. 

In other words, it’s not just about the screen. It’s about what’s happening on the screen.

Screen use can be beneficial in ways like:

• Educational engagement
  Kids can learn reading, math, science, and coding, often in more engaging or hands-on ways than traditional methods.
• Creative expression
  From building in Minecraft to editing music or videos, kids use screens to create.
• Social connection
  Screens have given us infinite ways to remain connected with those we care about, especially those that are far away. 
• Access and portability
  Games on your phone? An entire curriculum in your backpack? A dozen books on a device that weighs less than one? That’s pretty magical.

We don’t have separate rules for reading a book versus reading on a Kindle, so why are we treating other forms of screen time like a threat to childhood itself? Rather, screens are tools whose impact depends on why, how, and when they are used. 

The Pros and Cons of Screen Time Limits

Before jumping into some distinct pros and cons of screen time limits, I need to caveat the importance of flexibility in our limits. Rather than setting arbitrary time caps, we should co-create flexible guidelines based on age, context, and our family’s values. 

A Saturday afternoon looks different from a Wednesday night. A school break may include more game time, and that’s okay.

Instead of focusing too much on specific time limits, focus on:

• Content: What is your child watching or playing?
• Context: Why are they using a screen?
• Communication: Are you discussing these choices and setting shared expectations?

I go in-depth on these in The Parent’s Guide to Screen Time for Kids. We want to avoid screen time battles, especially around transitions, but that doesn’t mean giving in to every screen time demand for “5 more minutes,” either. 

How to Set Healthy, Flexible Screen Time Limits 

There’s no one-size-fits-all rulebook — not for every family or situation. But here are some guiding practices to limit screen time without compromising its benefits for your kids, family, or your ability to handle everyday responsibilities in modern life. 

Model Healthy Habits

This one’s hard but powerful. We learn from those around us, including our digital habits. Your kids are watching your screen use, too. 

Want to drive a healthy balance in your own use of digital devices? Consider setting up central charging stations or having tech-free mornings.

Create a Family Media Plan

Screens can be powerful tools, but just like everything else, they have a time and a place. Set screen-free zones (like the dinner table), co-create rules, and revisit them regularly.

Also, take the opportunity to teach screen time transition skills. Help kids learn to stop or pause at natural moments. Use visual timers, give countdowns, and co-engage to ease the shift.

Use Parental Controls Wisely

Parental controls vary from device to device and even app to app. These can be great ways for parents to set age-appropriate limits, keep an eye on what their children are doing online, and monitor their time. But while they can support your goals, parental controls are not a substitute for engaging family conversations and co-created digital wellness plans.

Encourage Off-Screen Balance — and Make Space for Boredom

Pair screen activities with non-screen ones. Mix active digital play with offline creativity, outdoor time, or hands-on fun. 

Board game night, family walks around the neighborhood, or outings to a local park — these are just a few of the things we can do together as a family that are fun, creative, and relaxing (unless your kids are as competitive as mine, in which case maybe pick up some puzzles instead!).

When to Reassess Screen Time Use and Limits

Actively engaging with your kids’ screen time activities and habits will help keep everyone on the same page with the role that screens do (or do not) play in your house. If you notice uncomfortable patterns or behaviors, you may need to check in, reevaluate, and reset boundaries and guidelines around screen time.

What is important to remember is that you don’t need to panic at every tablet session. But if you notice the following, it might be time for a family conversation:

• Your child seems irritable, anxious, or tired after screen use
• Screens become the go-to coping tool for stress or boredom
• Sleep, social interaction, or responsibilities are\ negatively impacted
• You sense they’re using screens to avoid rather than engage

Revisiting your Digital Wellness Plan

In the case of screen use impacting kids’ behavior, emotions, or social skills in a concerning way, the answer isn’t to just take away the screens. Rather, it’s time to revisit your family’s digital wellness guidelines. 

If things feel off, don’t jump straight to cutting screen time cold turkey. Instead:

• Revisit your family’s media agreement — is it still working?
• Re-engage in open conversations with your child — ask what they’re doing online and how it feels.
• Offer “high-quality,” active screen time options — invite a co-play or co-view session.
• Model the reset yourself — like putting your phone away during dinner.

As I said before, screens are a tool, not a treat and certainly not a threat. They are simply one of many activities that you and your children enjoy and should be approached like any other part of your child’s development.

Screens as a Tool for Digital Parenting

The reason so many parents feel guilty about screen time is that they see it as a treat, like chocolate. But screens aren’t just chocolate. They’re meat, potatoes, and yes, sometimes a little candy too. They’re part of the whole digital diet. 

The goal isn’t to eliminate screens. It’s to guide kids in using them with intention, creativity, and balance.

You’re likely to have more questions, so I compiled this FAQ on the impacts of screen time on kids.

About the Author: Dr. Rachel Kowert

Rachel Kowert, PhD is a research psychologist, award-winning author, and Nurture's Digital Parenting Expert. Her evidence-based work helps parents navigate screen time, online safety, and gaming's impact on child development. As a leading authority on digital games research and globally recognized advocate for digital literacy, she empowers families to make informed decisions about technology use. Her research-backed insights have been featured in The Washington Post, New York Times, and Wired Magazine. Dr. Kowert brings her expertise as both a researcher and parent to help families build healthy relationships with technology.