Hi there!   

You tell your kid, “Time’s up, get off the screen.”
They say, “Just one more minute!”
Thirty minutes later, they’re still scrolling. I get it… 😣

Screens are everywhere—school, hobbies, even their social lives. You can’t ban them completely, but you also don’t want your kid glued to a screen all day. 

Hi, I’m Lakshmi—your neighborhood laid-back parent. And today we are talking about ways to actually manage screen time without turning your house into a war zone… ⬇️

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The Rule That (Almost) Worked Until It Didn’t

When my kids were younger (5-8 years old), we had a simple rule:

For every 60 minutes of screen time, they had to do 60 minutes of physical activity.

It worked for a while. They’d run around, play outside, and then happily get their screen time. 

But then they got older and school moved online, their interests (video editing, 3D modeling, coding) needed screens, and their entire social life was digital. At that point, enforcing the rule felt impossible. I needed a new approach. 

The New Rule: Create, Don’t Just Consume

Not all screen time is the same.

🚫 Passive scrolling – mindlessly watching YouTube Shorts, endless Netflix binges, clicking “one more” Reel.
✅ Active screen time – making videos, designing 3D prints, writing code, playing appropriate games. 

The new rule? If you’re on a screen, you should be creating something—not just consuming. Teach your child to consume less.  

Because here’s the thing: mindless scrolling changes kids’ moods. They go from “This video is so funny” to full-blown grumpy mode. And it’s not just kids, adults do it too. Read the full report here! 

Ever spent an hour doom-scrolling and suddenly felt irritated for no reason? Yeah. Same.  

The Secret to Reducing Screen Time Without a Fight

Here’s what actually works: Make screen time something they earn, not something they default to.

Instead of saying, “Get off your screen,” I try to give them something more fun to do first.

• “Let’s bake muffins together.”

• “Let’s go on a bike ride.”

• “Want to run to Starbucks?”

Turns out, when kids are actually engaged, they don’t reach for screens out of habit.

Another trick? Giving them independence.

One night, I told my kids, “You’re making dinner. Figure it out.”

They made pasta from scratch (rolling out the dough and everything!), they used way too much butter, but they learned and most importantly had a good time! 

PS: If you give kids free rein in the kitchen… just be prepared for a mess. 

Model the Behavior You Want to See

If I don’t want my kids glued to screens, I can’t be glued to mine.

Kids copy what they see. If I’m doom-scrolling at the dinner table, they’ll do the same. So we try to avoid looking at my phone every five seconds, and keep screens out of family meals.

Because at the end of the day, kids won’t do what you say. They’ll do what you do. 

That’s all for today’s issue, parents! 🩷

See you next week, with another interesting topic. But first, check this out 👀⬇️

Inside the Laid-back Parent’s Internet History this week: 

Note for My Fellow Laid-Back Parents 📧

Instead of fighting screens, focus on how your kids use them.

✔ Encourage creation over consumption
✔ Set boundaries, but stay flexible
✔ Offer better alternatives (if they’re excited about an activity, they won’t think about screens)
✔ Lead by example

It’s not about banning screens—it’s about making sure they don’t take over your kids’ lives.

And honestly? It’s about making sure they don’t take over yours, too.

Catch you next time, 

Lakshmi (Chief of Chill Parenting)