With the end of the school year and the start of the summer break, many children find themselves with long hours of free time, prompting them to spend more time in front of screens, whether on smartphones, tablets, or television. In the absence of the school routine and daily activities, these devices may become the primary source of entertainment, raising questions among many parents about how to strike a balance between entertainment and benefit, and protect children from excessive screen use.

Martha Deiros Collado, a clinical psychologist based in the UK and author of the book 'The Smartphone Solution: When and How to Give Your Child a Phone,' says: 'I think it's very easy to rely on the screen,' according to CNBC.

She adds that the more time a child spends in front of a screen, the less time they dedicate to acquiring the skills needed to interact with the real world, such as playing, real socializing, and developing independence.

Here are the top tips from experts, including Collado and Nir Eyal, author of 'Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life,' to help parents manage their children's screen use during the summer.

Start by asking your children: How would you like to spend your time?

Experts believe that the key is achieving a balance between different activities; therefore, when planning a child's summer day, it is important to consider all the activities they can engage in and determine the appropriate place for screens within that schedule, rather than making them the main activity.

Collado says: 'I don't want my 7-year-old daughter to spend 5 hours in front of a screen because that would deprive her of playing in the garden, playing with her sister, or helping me prepare lunch or bake a cake.'

If the children are teenagers and plan their own days, Nir Eyal advises helping them create a plan from the start of the break by involving them in setting their priorities.

He suggests that parents ask them questions such as:

- How much time do you want to spend with your friends?

- How much time do you want to spend with family?

- How much time do you want to dedicate to camping or building something new?

- Would you like to start a small project, writing, or filming videos?

Such questions help teenagers think about how to invest their time rather than letting it slip away entirely in front of screens.

3 hours of any activity may be long

Studies have shown that early and excessive screen exposure is linked to lower cognitive abilities and academic performance in children.

Therefore, it is recommended to consult age-appropriate guidelines regarding screen time. Nir Eyal also believes that it is best for TV or tablet use not to exceed 3 hours daily, explaining that '3 hours of anything is probably too much.'

Collado advises helping children organize their time by creating a clear weekly schedule, writing it on a whiteboard or any visual aid, with designated times for various activities, including an hour for TV or tablet use.

She adds: 'I think having a visual aid helps a lot' because it gives the child a clear picture of their day and reduces arguments about device usage times.

Not all screen time is the same

Collado points out that the quality of time a child spends in front of a screen is just as important as the duration.

She explains that sitting alone in front of a screen is different from watching a movie with parents or playing video games with friends, as these activities are shared social experiences.

Similarly, using a tablet for drawing, creating artwork, or writing a story is very different from aimless browsing or continuously watching videos without a purpose.

Regarding internet and social media use, Nir Eyal notes that social media companies themselves recommend not allowing children to use their platforms before age 13, considering this age limit an easy rule for families to implement.

For teenagers, he recommends having an open dialogue with them about the risks of endless scrolling and its impact on attention and mental health, then giving them space to participate in decision-making regarding their use of these platforms.

Designate phone-free zones inside the home

Collado believes that one of the most important rules to follow is prohibiting screens in bedrooms, saying: 'No screens in bedrooms is a fundamental rule for me... Devices should be used in a common area, whether on the couch or in the dining room.'

In Nir Eyal's home, the family bans phone use at the dinner table, and he says there is plenty of evidence that children who eat meals with their families and talk to them are less likely to suffer from mental health issues.

Experts stress that the success of any rules set by parents depends on adherence by all family members, including parents or anyone caring for the children during the summer break, because children imitate behavior more than they respond to instructions.

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