So how do you avoid the screen time arguments this summer

Summer, holidays and time for screen battles. How do you manage to lure the kids away from the screen and what rules are reasonable to have?

» Updated: July 16 2024

» Published: June 21 2024

So how do you avoid the screen time arguments this summer
Photo: Martina Holmberg / TT

Share this article

Summer, holidays, and time for screen battles. How do you manage to lure children away from screens and what rules are reasonable to have?

Lisa Thorell is a professor of psychology at the Karolinska Institute and researches screen time. According to her, many children end up in front of screens during the summer when routines fall apart and free time takes over.

What's the attraction?

We've created a society where children use screens. Everyday life feels dull because there's so much exciting stuff in games and social media. If something's dull, you just swipe on. It pushes sleep and exercise aside.

Luring them away

What responsibility do adults have?

Very young children shouldn't use screens at all. But with older children in school age, it's good to come up with other things to do together to lure them away from screens, says Thorell.

As a parent, you shouldn't just focus on screen time but what content the child is exposed to. The harmful content in apps like Tiktok has unfortunately become much worse in recent years with more violence and unhealthy body ideals.

Thorell continues:

It's important not to try to make it a battle between the child and the parent but to have a joint discussion about how the family should think about screens and having screen-free times.

Children and young people socialise more and more online while playing, but also at each other's homes in front of a screen. How should you think?

You can talk to friends' parents and coordinate how they use screens and maybe try to introduce common rules.

Contact with friends

At the same time, not all screen time is bad, Thorell points out.

If you're away somewhere, it's reasonable for a teenager to have contact with their friends via social media. In the long run, it's important for the child to learn to socialise in real life outside of screens, otherwise they may have difficulties in the future.

What can you do to lure young people away when they're stuck in front of a screen?

Try to get the child to understand that they need to do something else. You have to be prepared as a parent to help find other activities.

It can help to have more natural endings.

Think about it yourself - if you're watching a TV series and someone orders you to turn it off in the middle, you'd also get irritated. Instead, you can say "in 30 minutes we'll eat, so don't start a new game, finish what you're doing", says Thorell.

It's important to remember that young people don't just think screen time is positive. They see the negative effects of their social media use themselves, but can't cut down without help.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

NATO to Set Up Signal Company in Sweden's Enköping
1 MIN READ

NATO to Set Up Signal Company in Sweden's Enköping

Kiruna Faces Major Relocation as 6,000 Residents Must Move Due to Mining
2 MIN READ

Kiruna Faces Major Relocation as 6,000 Residents Must Move Due to Mining

Five Dead in Sundbyberg Elevator Crash; CEO and Fitters Charged
2 MIN READ

Five Dead in Sundbyberg Elevator Crash; CEO and Fitters Charged

Kiruna Residents Face Relocation as LKAB Expands Iron Ore Mine
2 MIN READ

Kiruna Residents Face Relocation as LKAB Expands Iron Ore Mine

Teenager Seriously Injured in Öland A-Traktor Accident
1 MIN READ

Teenager Seriously Injured in Öland A-Traktor Accident

Christian Democrats Lead in Taxpayer-Funded Party Expenses
3 MIN READ

Christian Democrats Lead in Taxpayer-Funded Party Expenses

E4 Closed in Both Directions After Truck Accident Near Gävle
1 MIN READ

E4 Closed in Both Directions After Truck Accident Near Gävle

Värmdö Demands Action After Fatal Bridge Accident
2 MIN READ

Värmdö Demands Action After Fatal Bridge Accident

Unique Spiked Dinosaur Spicomellus Discovered in Africa
3 MIN READ

Unique Spiked Dinosaur Spicomellus Discovered in Africa

Housing Costs Threaten Participation at Climate Summit in Brazil
2 MIN READ

Housing Costs Threaten Participation at Climate Summit in Brazil

Man Arrested for Attempted Murder After Flemingsberg Shooting
1 MIN READ

Man Arrested for Attempted Murder After Flemingsberg Shooting

Chinese Goods Most Frequently Seized by EU Customs in 2024
1 MIN READ

Chinese Goods Most Frequently Seized by EU Customs in 2024

Harmful Boxwood Moth Spreading Rapidly Across Sweden
1 MIN READ

Harmful Boxwood Moth Spreading Rapidly Across Sweden

Man Found Dead in Kristinehamn Archipelago; Murder Investigation Launched
1 MIN READ

Man Found Dead in Kristinehamn Archipelago; Murder Investigation Launched

Shooting in Flemingsberg Leaves Two Men Injured
1 MIN READ

Shooting in Flemingsberg Leaves Two Men Injured

Scania Healthcare Workers Urge Sweden to Accept Gaza Patients
1 MIN READ

Scania Healthcare Workers Urge Sweden to Accept Gaza Patients

Person Released After Detention in Kallhäll Double Murder Case
1 MIN READ

Person Released After Detention in Kallhäll Double Murder Case

SOS Alarm Resolves Nationwide Technical Issues Affecting Ambulance Dispatch
1 MIN READ

SOS Alarm Resolves Nationwide Technical Issues Affecting Ambulance Dispatch

Two Seriously Injured in Head-On Collision on E14 in Åre
1 MIN READ

Two Seriously Injured in Head-On Collision on E14 in Åre

6,000 Residents to Relocate as Kiruna Mine Expansion Continues
1 MIN READ

6,000 Residents to Relocate as Kiruna Mine Expansion Continues