By Kirstie Grant (she/her), Senior Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Trainer When school lets out, the "screen time struggle" usually moves right in. For most of us, summer isn’t exactly a vacation. It’s more like a marathon where you're trying to work, keep the house from falling apart, and keep the kids entertained while making the most of the sunshine. We understand why TikTok, video games, and YouTube often become the default.
At Prevent Child Abuse Vermont (PCAVT), we want to start by saying: It is okay to use screens. Our goal isn’t to pile on guilt. Instead, we want to help you find a digital balance that lowers stress for everyone in your house. When we turn down the volume on those daily family power struggles, we create a safer, more connected home.
Why Screens Can Feel So Heavy
If you feel like you’re noticing a mood shift after your child has spent a long time on a device, you’re not imagining it. Research from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) shows that too much passive scrolling, like endless short-form videos, can lead to what some call a “screen hangover.” That can look like irritability, glazed-over behavior, or a hard crash once the device is turned off and the search for the next dopamine hit begins. Between blue light affecting sleep and rapid-fire content making real-world play feel less exciting, it’s no wonder summer days can start to feel a little tricky.
Three Checks for Caregivers
Instead of relying only on a timer or a complicated chart, try using these three simple checks to see whether the balance is shifting:
The Vibe Check: Is your child acting like themselves? If they’re extra irritable or seem mentally checked out, the content may be a little too overstimulating. That is often the first sign it’s time to head to a swimming hole or the park for a while.
The Quality Check: Is what they’re watching making them laugh or teaching them something? If it’s just mindless filler that even they don’t seem to enjoy, it’s probably not worth the screen hangover later.
The Balance Check: Is screen time crowding out the essentials? Think about whether it is getting in the way of movement, shared meals, in-person time with friends, or getting to bed on time.
A 60-Second Tool for Children
Forget rigid contracts or timers that lead to meltdowns. Before devices turn on, try a quick check-in to help kids learn how to regulate themselves. You can ask:
“Have we moved today?” Even a five-minute dance party in the kitchen or a little weeding in the garden counts.
“Have we done one thing together in person?” This could be drawing, helping make a snack, or reading a few pages of a book.
“Are we building or just watching?” Try to steer them toward active play, like creating digital art or building a world, instead of passive scrolling.
Low-Stress Ways to Unplug
A dose of boredom can spark creativity and help kids discover new interests. And when it’s time to transition out of screen time, having a few simple ideas ready can make things easier. A self-built obstacle course, a family book club where you all read the same book, or a micro-volunteer hour decorating cards for a local nursing home can all be great ways to return to hands-on connection. Whether it’s cooking a recipe you found online or building a fort out of delivery boxes, those small moments of connection are the real goal.
You Are the Best "App"
The biggest protective factor a child has is a solid relationship with you. You don’t need to be a Pinterest parent. Honestly, just 10 minutes of undivided attention (no phones, no chores) can fill their cup enough that they’re usually much more willing to accept boundaries later.
By choosing a few no-go zones, like keeping phones away from the dinner table or turning them off an hour before bed, you create space for the small conversations that matter most. Start small, pick one change that feels doable for your family, and build from there. The goal is not perfection. The goal is more connection, less stress, and a summer that feels a little better for everyone.
Want to dig deeper?
If you’re looking for the research behind these tips, check out the 2025 Lurie Children’s Hospital report on screen use or visit HealthyChildren.org for the latest media guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Off-Screen Activity Suggestions:
Get cozy: Set up a reading corner and read aloud together, play a board or card game, create a world for action figures or stuffed animals, have a spa day at home, host a stuffed animal tea party, or listen to an audiobook.
Get giving: Cook a meal for a local meal train, make cards for neighbors or nursing home residents, donate toys or books together, or collect supplies for an animal shelter.
Get crafty: Make friendship bracelets, test different paper airplane designs, decorate with sidewalk chalk, or learn a family recipe that has been passed down through generations.
Get messy: Build a fort outside, paint rocks, press flowers in a book, or make a nature potion with leaves, sticks, and petals.
Get moving: Borrow yard games from the library, ride bikes, go for a nature walk or hike, or invent a new game to play outside.
Additional resource: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, “Children and Watching TV.”
Email: Kgrant@pcavt.org