Parenting Screen Time Isn’t a Set-It-and-Forget-It Job—It’s a Lifelong Skill
Think about it: we don’t just say, “Here’s a salad. Don’t ever eat chips again.”
We talk about balance. We experiment. We notice how different foods make us feel. We screw it up. And we try again.
Let’s be honest.
Most of us have, at some point, daydreamed about installing one perfect parental control app, setting the ideal screen time rules, and never having to deal with it again.
Set the limits. Lock it in. Done forever.
Except… that’s not how parenting works.
And it’s definitely not how screens work.
Parenting screen time—especially when you’re raising neurodivergent kids—isn’t a checkbox you tick off. It’s an evolving relationship that you’re guiding your child through.
It’s not a one-time fix. It’s a long-haul life skill.
This isn’t just about screens. It’s about teaching your child how to live with them.
Just like we teach kids how to have healthy relationships with food, money, friends, and even their own emotions, we also have to teach them how to engage with screens in a way that supports their well-being.
Think about it: we don’t just say, “Here’s a salad. Don’t ever eat chips again.”
We talk about balance. We experiment. We notice how different foods make us feel. We screw it up. And we try again.
Screen time is the same.
It’s not just about “less is better.”
It’s about what kind, how it’s used, and how your child feels during and after.
But what if your screen time rules used to work—and now they don’t?
Here’s a real example from a family I worked with recently:
Their 10-year-old autistic son was thriving with a 45-minute-a-day screen plan. It helped him regulate after school, and they had a smooth evening routine.
Then one day… it just stopped working.
He got more irritable, transitions became harder, and the “smooth” plan they had built suddenly felt like a minefield.
They thought they’d messed up. That he was “getting addicted” or that the plan had been too soft.
But after talking through it, they realized something important:
He had hit a new phase of burnout at school. His sensory load was heavier. He was using screen time differently—seeking escape rather than connection or regulation.
So instead of doubling down on limits, they did a reset:
They talked about how screens made him feel
They adjusted timing, types of content, and transition supports
They made space for more sensory decompression before the screen came out
The plan evolved.
Because he had evolved.
Three things I want every parent to know:
1. It’s okay to revisit your screen time boundaries regularly.
They’re not rules carved in stone. They’re guardrails you’re allowed to adjust based on your child’s needs.
2. You’re not failing if you need to change things.
That’s not inconsistency. That’s responsiveness.
3. You’re not weak for finding screen time hard to manage.
These platforms are designed to be hard to walk away from—for kids and adults. If you struggle with moderation, congratulations: you’re having a completely normal human experience.
So what do we do?
Treat screen time like an ongoing conversation
Focus on how your child feels before, during, and after
Keep observing and tweaking without shame
Don’t aim for control—aim for connection
Final thoughts:
You’re not behind. You’re not broken. And your child isn’t either.
Parenting screen time is part of teaching your child how to live in a digital world that wasn’t built with their brain in mind. That takes time, presence, and so much more grace than any “expert” tip sheet can offer.
You’re doing that work.
And that’s what matters.
If this post helped you reframe your approach, I’d love it if you shared it with another parent who might be stuck in the “this should be easier” loop.