Managing Screen Time & Gaming

Although screen time can be very enjoyable, too much screen time is not good for your child’s physical and mental health because: 

• It contributes to a range of challenging behaviours and emotions. 

• It takes time away from physical activity.

• It can reduce your child’s concentration and interest in learning and school

• At night, the blue light from screens makes it harder for your child to fall and stay asleep which also affects your child’s energy and mood.

Try setting “screen-free zones/times”– especially during mealtimes and in bedroom spaces. Choose an hour or two during the day that is "screen free." You can use this time to cook dinner with your child, play a board game or spend time outside.

Provide positive feedback and praise when your child engages in non-screen activities. This will help establish a positive feedback loop.

Watch for these signs:

• Gaming for many hours without breaks or losing track of time

• Extreme reactions when screen time limits are enforced (e.g., tantrums, becoming withdrawn)

• Skipping homework, chores, or social activities to play games

• Gaming late into the night, affecting sleep

• Getting very upset, angry, or irritable when unable to play

• Choosing gaming over face-to-face time with family or friends

• Teachers share concerns that student seems sleepy in class or disengaged

Research consistently shows strong links between gaming and sleep disruption. Studies indicate that people with internet addiction are more likely to have sleep problems than people who don't. Research has also found that an increased number of hours spent using internet gaming applications was associated with more psychiatric problems, sleep disturbance, difficulty interpreting emotions, and emotion dysregulation.

Protective Steps:

• Turn off chat features when possible

• Use parental controls to limit online interactions

• Keep gaming devices in common areas such as the living room or kitchen where you can observe

• Teach children never to share personal information

• Report inappropriate behavior to game companies (use the "report" or "flag" button)

Gradual Reduction Approach 

Research shows that decreasing screen time by small amounts works better than sudden changes:

• Reduce gaming time by 15 minutes per day for one week at a time

• This prevents intense emotional reactions

• Children adjust to shorter gaming sessions more easily

• It teaches self-control skills gradually

Timing and Boundaries

• Use natural game stopping points (end of levels, matches, or when characters "die")

• Set a gaming cutoff time 60-90 minutes before bedtime

• Create screen-free zones during meals and in bedrooms

• Establish specific gaming-free times for homework and family activities

Remove Technology from Bedrooms

Research consistently shows that having gaming devices and other technology in bedrooms significantly disrupts sleep patterns and increases problematic gaming behaviors. Instead try:

• No gaming consoles, computers, or tablets in bedrooms

• Charging stations for phones and devices should be outside the bedroom

• Use traditional alarm clocks instead of phones for wake-up times

• Create a "parking spot" for all family devices during sleep hours

Taking Breaks

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds

• Set timers to remind children to take breaks

• Use breaks to check in emotionally with your child (e.g., "How are you feeling about that game?" or "What was your favorite part?")

• Encourage physical movement during breaks

Alternative Activities 

• Building and Creating: Lego, model building, art projects

• Problem-Solving: Puzzles, brain teasers, coding

• Competition: Board games, sports, card games

• Stories and Adventure: Reading, outdoor exploration

• Social Connection: Team sports, group activities, family game nights

Positive Reinforcement 

Research supports providing positive feedback when children:

• Follow gaming limits without arguing

• Choose non-screen activities

• Show efforts to control their gaming, even if they're still learning

Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may be at higher risk for gaming problems. Research shows several important connections:

Children with ADHD often have difficulty with self-regulation (the ability to control their own behavior and emotions) and may find it harder to stop gaming 

Video games provide instant rewards and constant activity that appeals to children with attention difficulties 

Gaming can temporarily improve focus for children with ADHD, making them want to play more 

Special Considerations for Students with ADHD:

• May need more external structure (clear rules and reminders from parents) and reminders about time limits (such as setting multiple alarms or using visual timers)

• Could benefit from earning gaming time through completing other tasks first (for example, "After you finish your homework and do 15 minutes of physical activity, you can play for 30 minutes")

• Might need shorter gaming sessions with more frequent breaks

• May require closer monitoring as they're more likely to lose track of time