What happens when you pull the plug on screen time?

Inside our family’s slow shift away from screens, and the surprising things we learned along the way.

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Hi there,

This past week, I told my kids they couldn’t use screens until they’d done at least 30 minutes of something active or creative.

It was summer. They had time. I thought I was being reasonable.

Within an hour, I was “mean,” “too strict,” and “so unfair.”

If you’ve been there, wondering if you’re the only one constantly battling the fallout of screen time, you’re not.

And the research just keeps backing it up. But honestly? I didn’t need a study to tell me what I’m seeing at home, at school, and in my community and I’m sure you don’t either. 

In this issue, I’m unpacking how we’re navigating it as a family, what’s worked, what’s been hard, and some small, practical ways we can all respond better.

Let’s get into it ⬇️

The Study Just Confirmed What Parents Already Know

Nothing in the study surprised me. The mood crashes when screen time ends? We’ve all seen them.
What did hit me was how consistently it shows up, even across age groups.

You take away a screen, and suddenly the smallest requests turn into meltdowns. 

It’s not because our kids are spoiled or difficult. It’s because their brains are wired to expect that dopamine hit, and when they don’t get it, they spiral. 

Cold Turkey vs. Gradual Limits

If your child is still young and mostly watching shows, you might get away with a clean break.
But if they’re using screens to connect with friends, it gets harder, and more emotional.

In our case, gradual boundaries worked better. It gave us room to explain, enforce, and adjust, all without turning it into a power struggle.

So if your child must use screens, ask this:

👉 Are they creating or consuming?

👉 Are they engaged or numbing out?

But here’s the part most of us forget: If you’re taking away screen time, be prepared to deal with what comes next.

The mess. The noise. The “I’m bored” loop. It’s inconvenient, but it’s also where kids start building their own fun instead of being fed it.    

What’s Worked in Our House (And What Hasn’t)

We didn’t go cold turkey. But we did set clearer limits.

For example, my 12-year-old has an Apple Watch instead of a phone. He can stay in touch with friends but can’t scroll endlessly. It gives him freedom without friction.

And when the inevitable mood flare-ups happen, I’ve found it helps to ask, not lecture:

“Do you notice how you're feeling right now?”   

They won’t always answer. But it definitely gets them in the reflection zone! 

One Camp, 140 Kids, and a Wake-Up Call

My older son volunteered as a counselor at a STEAM camp recently.

After the camp, I got a text from one of the adult teachers that out of the 140 kids and teen helpers, he and one other student were the only ones not glued to their phones.      

And the difference was visible.

They were more engaged. More present.
The teacher even messaged me about it, how rare it was to see kids that actually look up.

It reminded me that restraint is still possible. It just needs to be intentional. 

How are you managing screen time at home?

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That’s all for this week, parents! See you again, same time ☺️

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

Note for My Fellow Laid-Back Parents 📧

If you feel like you’re losing your kid to a screen… Start now.

You don’t need to overhaul everything.

Reduce screen time a little each day. Offer better options. Be okay with boredom.

But also, take a look at your own screen time. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can model… is restraint.

See you next week 💛
Lakshmi