10 ways to help Kids Use Tech in a Healthy Way

As parents of a 10-year-old and a 6-year-old, my husband and I are stumbling through this new world of tech just like most families — trying to find the balance between embracing what’s useful and protecting what matters most – our kids’ well being.
I used to feel guilt about screens, like I needed to fight them. But over time — as a teacher too — I’ve realised it’s not about banning screens, it’s about how we use them. Screens can absolutely be part of a healthy, connected, creative family life… with the right boundaries and a bit, actually A LOT of intention.

It can be hard. And sometimes it all just seems too much and unfair that our parents didn’t have to deal with all this (They, of course, tell us they had their own battles!) But the reality is, technology is not going anywhere. As parents, we are finding the best way to work all this out, is to take every development as it comes and heed the advice of your other parents who can offer us any advice!

This is what’s making sense for us at this stage. It’s not perfect (and we absolutely struggle with some!), but maybe there’s something in here that helps you too.

No social media (yet!)
We’ve drawn a firm line here. Our kids don’t need it AT ALL — and the stories from parents with older kids have only confirmed this choice. We’re holding off while we still can.

We balance consuming with creating
For every Avatar World session or Netflix show binge, we make space for drawing, writing, inventing, or hands-on play. Tech becomes a springboard, not a dead end. Our kids also love making their own “YouTube” videos about things they’re interested in. Still screen – but they’re also using their creativity and imagination.

Set Clear Time Limits

We set specific screen time limits each day – usually, around an hour. Lately, we’ve also introduced ‘breaks’ as well. 20 minutes of screen, and then a 10-minute break doing something else. We’ve found this minimises the severity of the ‘come down’ after an hour of straight screen. Use a timer to help your child understand the concept of time and make transitions smoother.

Talk about algorithms (yes, really!)

Even at their age, kids get it. We’ve started chatting about how apps show you more of what you already like — and why it’s important to notice when everything starts to look the same. It’s a simple way to build awareness early.

We keep tech visible

Devices stay in shared spaces. It makes it easier to talk about what they’re doing and step in if they need help navigating something tricky. Yes – not gonna lie – it does become irritating when they keep asking to show you something – but I’m happy to grin and bear it for now.

Create screen-free rituals

Protect parts of your day that are always tech-free — getting ready for school, all meals, bedtime tuck-ins, or afternoon walks. These become little anchors in the day.

Tech can support relationships, not replace them

Some of our favourite moments involve screens — like playing Ninja Turtle PlayStation games as a family or watching some YouTube videos before bed (We find videos about things EVERYONE will be interested in) We try to make it a shared thing, not something they disappear into.

Show Interest

If I’m brutally honest, I’m not always genuinely interested in our kids’ shows or games (the word tedious springs to mind!)— But asking, “What are you watching?” or “What’s fun about this game?” shows them we’re engaged, even if we don’t fully understand it. (Be prepared for a complete and thorough rundown of what they’ve been watching or playing for the past half hour!!) But letting them know we care about their interests and keeping the conversation open is important.

We talk about what screens do to their brain

We keep it simple, but honest: screens are designed to feel good — they fire off little hits of dopamine that make it hard to stop. Helping our kids understand this makes them more aware, not ashamed. I tried to find a YouTube video that could explain this to kids but had little luck! If you know of one, let me know!

Model your own healthy screen habits

This one’s tough, but real — I know my kids notice when I’m glued to my phone. It’s hard though – often I’m looking for a recipe for dinner or researching the dance classes they were talking about but the kids don’t know that. I’ve started catching myself more often and trying to put it down so they see me making space for real life too.

At the end of the day, it’s not about being perfect — it’s about staying connected with our kids, in as many ways as we can. I think setting the tone early is so important as this will set expectations for the years ahead. Let’s stay curious about what our kids are doing on their screens, and keep real-life moments front and centre. It’s the balance that matters most. Good luck out there!