Technology definitely has its place.

As a directionally-challenged person, for example, I wouldn’t survive without Maps. (I think it might actually be my most frequently used app tbh 🙈) I love staying in touch with my friends and family through text and Snapchat – mostly by sending everyone a million and two pictures of my dog every week. And as a toddler teacher, I’m eternally grateful for the huge variety of free kids’ music on YouTube. 

That being said, the research is clear on this: When it comes to kids, less screen time is best. 

That doesn’t mean that it’s always easy to raise unplugged kids. Children – especially little ones – demand huge amounts of your energy and attention and, honestly, sometimes you just need a break.

So, whether you’re looking to cut out screen time altogether or you just want to limit the amount of time your child spends glued to the iPad, here are a few simple ways to get your little one unplugged – without losing your mind.

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11 Simple Ways to Limit Your Child’s Screen Time

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1 | Encourage independent play

When we rely too much on screen time to entertain children, it’s usually because we’re looking for an easy way to keep the lil one busy while we check our email/ make dinner/ tidy up / or whatever.

Basically, we need a second to ourselves and handing over the iPad for half an hour is a quick and easy way to make that happen.

If you’re trying to limit screen time, however, encouraging your child to play independently is a much better solution. This doesn’t have to involve tons of planning or investing in expensive toys, either.

Here are a few simple ways to encourage your child to play independently:

• Choose simple, passive toys like blocks, puzzles, and baby dolls for your child – nothing that requires batteries or help from an adult
• “Stage” your child’s playspace by placing an activity out on the table or floor for your child to discover and explore on their own
• Offer simple sensory activities for your child, like playdough and tools or a bowl of water/rice with measuring cups
• Make simple art supplies, like paper and crayons, easily accessible to your child
• Reserve a few special toys, coloring books, or interesting household objects to surprise your child with the next time you really need your little one to entertain herself for awhile
• Consider sitting next to your child while they play if they’re going through a clingy phase. Once they’re absorbed in play, you might be able to sneak off for a bit!

2 | Give minimalism a try

When kids have too much stuff, they tend to lose focus and get distracted more easily. That’s why a child with a full toybox might loudly complain that there’s nothing to do and they’re bored. It’s more likely that they have too many options, not too few.

Rather than turning on the TV to entertain your child, reducing toy clutter and simplifying your space can help.

This doesn’t have to mean donating everything you own or living without things you or your child love. Simply focus on purging toys and other “stuff” that doesn’t serve your family anymore – from broken toys to loud, flashy electronics that don’t encourage active exploration.

By simplifying the things you own, you can help your child develop an appreciation for a simpler, (mostly) unplugged life from an early age.

3 | Model healthy screen-time habits

You are your child’s first – and most important – teacher. So, if you’re constantly scrolling through Instagram or binge-watching Netflix, your child is likely to follow your lead. The best thing you can do to raise a child with healthy screen-time habits, then, is to set a good example.

It’s okay to be on your phone sometimes or watch TV occasionally, of course. You don’t have to be perfect! But think about the example you’re setting for your child as you use technology in your daily life.

Do your best to model healthy habits for your child, whether that means putting your phone away until bedtime or just being more mindful about limiting your own screen time each day.

4 | Let your child experience boredom

A lot of moms feel pressure to entertain their kids 24/7. They feel like their child’s day has to be packed to the brim with fun crafts and activities, playdates, outings, and – in the few, unplanned moments of the day – educational television (or whatever).

Somewhere deep down, these moms believe that having a bored child means they failed. 

If you can relate, try to find peace in this: Boredom is not an emergency. Your child will survive being bored – and learning how to deal with boredom is an important skill. It’s not realistic to keep your child constantly entertained. Not to mention that trying to keep your kid busy 24/7 will burn you out like crazy.

So, try not to feel like you need to fork over your phone to keep your lil one happy when they start whining at the grocery store or while you’re making dinner.

These low-key, potentially “boring” experiences can be great opportunities to have a conversation with your child, sing a song together, or let your child help you out with whatever you’re doing.

Letting your child experience boredom – without “rescuing” them all the time – will help your child develop independence, creativity, and the ability to cope in a variety of situations. Not to mention that a child who learns how to entertain themself at an early age will struggle less with boredom (and those not-so-great boredom-related behaviors) as they grow up.  

5 | Avoid using screen time as a reward

I know, I know, everyone says to do just the opposite. But hear me out. 

Rewarding your child with screen time makes the iPad look more valuable and desirable to your child than ever before. That’s just how rewards work. So, if your goal is to limit your child’s screen time in the long term – as well as their desire to sit glued to a screen – this strategy is bad news.

Here’s why.

When your little one’s reward for cleaning their room is half an hour of TV, that makes TV time look crazy appealing. It’s a special reward, after all – it must be good! Plus, it reduces your child’s intrinsic motivation to help out around the house. Why should they clean up when they’re not getting something – like more screen time – out of it? 

Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with offering your child a little bit of screen time if that’s what you want to do. It’s all about balance, right? But my suggestion is this: Avoid using screen time as a reward, and skip making your child “earn” screen time through chores or other tasks.

Instead, simply set a daily or weekly screen time limit for your child – or avoid screens altogether, if that’s your goal. 

6 | Set limits – and stick to them

How much screen time do you want your child to have? Set a daily or weekly time limit and stick to it.

This step is important because, without limits, it’s easy to let screen time creep up on you over time. Setting a firm limit – and following through – will help you stick to your screen time goals and make sure your little one is getting all the real world, screen-free play and exploration they need for healthy development.

For context, here’s what the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends:

• Children younger than 18 months: No screen time other than video-chatting
• 18-24 months: Less than 1 hour/day high-quality programming; should watch with a caregiver
• 2-5 years: 1 hour/day maximum of high-quality programming; should watch with a caregiver

In addition to time limits, notice that the AAP also recommends limiting your child’s screen time to high-quality programming (think Sesame Street or Doc McStuffins) and watching with your child. This is because young children don’t yet know how to separate reality from fantasy and need your help to understand and process what they’re watching.

So, make sure to keep all 3 factors – screen time, quality of programming, and co-watching – in mind as you decide on healthy media choices for your little one.

7 | Get outside

Developing gross motor skills – running, climbing, jumping, balancing, and so on – is one of the most important “jobs” of early childhood. It shouldn’t surprise you at all that most of those skills are developed and refined outdoors – whether it’s your backyard, the playground, a park nearby, or even the forest or beach.

(By the way, you can check out some of my favorite movement toys for little ones – both indoor and outdoor – here!)

Spending time outdoors, exploring nature, is another important part of childhood. Exploring nature helps children learn more about the world around them. Not to mention the social-emotional benefits of spending time playing outside!

Overall, giving your child plenty of opportunities to play outside and connect with nature will help you raise a calmer, healthier, and more balanced child. 

Fitting in quality outdoor time with your little one on a regular basis doesn’t have to be hard or complicated, either. Don’t worry about setting up anything special or planning tons of activities to “entertain” your child outside. Keep it simple and follow your child’s lead! Let them explore, let them play, and just try to be as present as possible.

8 | Read a good book (or 6) together

Reading is, for a million and two reasons, one of the best activities you can do with your child. Reading teaches children language and early literacy skills, helps little ones learn new skills and concepts, and is, overall, an awesome way to bond with your child every day.

Let’s be honest: It’s also great for those times you want to be present and intentional as a parent – but you’re exhausted. Cuddling up on the couch together with a pile of books is way less energy-intensive than playing chase or dress-up but way healthier for your child than using Daniel Tiger as a babysitter.

If you need book recs for your little one, click here to check out my all-time favorite books for toddlers!

9 | Listen, don’t look

Listening to music is an awesome activity for kids, whether you’re having a dance party at home or just playing calming music to help your little one fall asleep.

Personally, I love using YouTube to play music in the classroom. (Because honestly, who has CDs anymore?) To help keep things screen-free for the toddlers I work with, I just minimize the window while YouTube is open or turn the screen around so the video isn’t visible to the little ones.

The result? The children actively dance and sing along to the music instead of staring blankly, zombie-style, at the screen. It’s kind of magic.

Getting a screen-free smart speaker (like the Echo Dot) is another good option if you want to play music or other kinds of audio-based media for your lil one without messing around with a screen. By the way, speaking of screen-free media…

10 | Try podcasts for kids

You might have already hopped on the podcast train, but did you know that there are podcasts just for kids out there, too?

Podcasts are a great screen-free idea for long car rides or road trips, “quiet time” (aka when you need a break), or just for fun. Basically, anytime you might be tempted to use a screen to keep your little one busy, you can try playing a kid-friendly podcast for your little one instead.

Here are some of the best podcasts for kids under five to help you find a fun, family-friendly podcast for your little to enjoy at home or on the go!

11 | Audiobooks are great, too

I love sharing audiobooks with lil ones!

I don’t know what it is exactly, but there’s something so uniquely engaging about audiobooks for children. I’ve seen kids who aren’t usually the biggest fans of story-time sitting and listening, enthralled, as the story comes to life over the speakers.

Right now, there are 4,000+ books available on Audible for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers – from classics like Winnie the Pooh to modern faves like Llama Llama Red Pajama. Perfect for spicing up story time, sharing a new bedtime fave with your little one, or boosting your child’s language skills in the car on your way to Whole Foods.

The cool thing is that when you sign up for a free 30-day trial through Audible, you get 2 free audiobooks – and you can keep them even if you cancel! If you’re curious, you can click here to learn more or sign up for a free trial.

Why does limiting screen time matter?

It’s not that technology is evil or anything like that. Actually, technology can help make high-quality and enriching kids’ entertainment – like podcasts, audiobooks, and music – more accessible to little ones. With help, kids can also learn how to use technology to connect, create, and learn.

However, we do need to be intentional about the amount – and the type of – screen time that kids are getting. 

After all, the most important learning for little ones doesn’t happen through an app that teaches kids their colors, or a TV show preaching about being kind to others.  

Children learn by doing. By engaging in hands-on exploration. Playing. Doing practical, real-life tasks. By interacting with other people – not lines of code. Spending too much time playing “educational” apps or watching YouTube Kids takes away from the time children have to spend each day on the things that really matter.

So, one of the best things you can do for your little one is to set healthy media limits that work for your family – whatever that looks like for you. No pressure or stress to be perfect and no need to complicate things. Just keep it simple.

You got this! 

♥ Meg

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