'I Took My Kids' Tablet Devices Away – Parenting Has Never Been Easier'

Child on tablet deviceThough most parents will likely know that giving their kids lots of screen time probably isn’t ideal – it is, after all, linked to largely negative brain changes – I can see why overwhelm might tempt some to abandon expert guidelines.Still, a 2024 paper showed that while a “digital pacifier” might offer short-term relief, in the long term, kids who were given tech to soothe their tantrums had worse emotional regulation (sometimes leading to a vicious cycle of anger and screen time).With that in mind, perhaps it’s no wonder that some mums like u/rssanch86 have found that keeping their kids from their tablet PCs has actually made parenting easier“Turns out the ‘lazy parenting’ thing to do, for me, was to take away the tablets,” she wrote to Reddit’s r/Parenting. We asked BACP member and psychotherapist Debbie Keenan why that might be, how to create a realistic balance in your home, and what to do if you’re worried about your own child’s screen time.The mum wasn’t worried about her kids’ screen time until she took their devices awayWriting to the forum, the mother said that she “never really cared about how much tablet time my kids got” as they weren’t “addicted”. But recently, she took her son’s tablet away from him as a consequence for behaving badly at school. She was surprised at how much his behaviour seemed to improve. “He would build machines with his Lego motor and write books for his little brother and friends. He cared about his bike again and hung out with friends,” she stated. So, she implemented the rule across her household (though she does let them use their tablets on Friday evenings and Saturdays).Since then, she claims, her kids “started making their own breakfast and lunch. They clean their room, put away laundry, and clean their own bathroom with supervision.“There are fewer fights between them and less housework for me. Everything seems easier... I feel lazy!”Screen time is a “mild form of dissociation” Speaking to HuffPost UK, therapist Keenan said the change does make sense. “From a child psychotherapist’s perspective, when children are on screens, they aren’t being present. They disconnect from their environment, including their caregivers/parents,” she began.“It is a mild form of dissociation. Without devices, they naturally re-engage their senses through play, communication, etc, which helps regulate their emotions and behaviour... Limiting or reducing screen time can... increase a calmer, more cooperative environment and relationships.”Indeed, a 2025 systematic review found that “increased screen time can lead to emotional and behavioural problems, and kids with those problems often turn to screens to cope”.With that said, screen time doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing issue.The American Academy of Paediatrics has pulled away from suggesting exact screen time limits for kids, because “the reality is that most kids spend far more than two hours a day on screens, and not all screen time is equal”.Instead, they say, it’s a good idea to build a balanced plan based on your family’s needs (for the Reddit poster, that seems to involve a much more relaxed approach to tablets on the weekend).“If you are worried about the amount of time your child spends on screens, embed balance by creating attainable boundaries, increasing real-world connections and being a good role model yourself regarding your screen time,” Keenan ended.Related...I Had 'Screen Apnoea' For Years Without Realising. Here's What It MeansHere's Exactly How Much Screen Time A Neuroscientist Allows Themselves Per DayKids Are Being 'Driven Indoors', But Screens Aren't The Only Reason Why

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