Summertime Screen Time

Reading Time: 2.6 mins

June 23, 2025

It’s summer and the school holidays are nearly here! While we can’t guarantee sun time, we can predict high levels of screen time for our children and young people during the school holiday season.

It might seem that the easiest option for managing screen time is to not allow it at all, but screen time activities like gaming and social media are a source of fun for children and young people. It is often how they communicate with their friends while they’re not seeing them every day at school, or even how they keep up with a hobby or interest.

A productive approach would be to establish boundaries and develop healthy habits, which will balance their screen time while also ensuring their needs are recognised.

However, the final decision around screen time rests with the parent or carer and what they believe is best for the child in their care.

Top Tips for Managing Screen Time

Here are some tips to help you begin the journey to less screen time with the children and young people in your care.

Be intentional, not confrontational

In the regular conversations you have with the children and young people in your care, be curious, ask questions out of interest like, “That game looks fun, what do you like about it?”. This creation of a casual and open space will make them more likely to share more with you about what they’re doing online.

Make a plan

Review your family’s screen time habits and agree together what good screen time habits are. Set clear boundaries on how much time to spend on devices every day. Every child or young person will have different needs when it comes to screen time, so keep this in mind when making your plan.

Monitor and Review

Ensure you are proactively involved and regularly review screen time boundaries, as circumstances can change and the child in your care may require flexibility in decisions.

Use tools to manage screen time and access to platforms

Many platforms offer parental controls that limit screen time and access to age-appropriate content. As the child in your care get older, you will need to amend their settings and allowances.

Arrange off-screen activities

Having fun and entertaining ways for children and young people to spend their time when they’re away from their devices will encourage them to stick to their plan. Board games, sports, crafting and reading are some ideas to have fun while learning some useful skills.

Lead by example

Adults spend nearly as much time on their screens as children and young people, with the average adult in the UK spending over 5 hours a day on digital devices. Always remember, your children are looking to you as an example, so seek to manage your own screen time as well as theirs!

The digital world is 24/7; it’s outside and inside of the school gates, so you need a service that does the same. Safer Schools is a digital library of age-appropriate safeguarding resources that you can check out anytime, from your phone to your computer to your classroom.

Register for Safer Schools here!

Our Safer Schools

Summer Screen Time Resources

Being proactive when it comes to screen time can be made easier by using resources to assist you to manage devices. Our Safety Centre provides step-by-step guidance on managing screen time, setting app limits, and much more.