Summer break means a new foe has joined leagues with sunburns, bug bites, and boredom: excessive screen time.
On one hand, technology is a great equalizer and can be a gift for our children – at the touch of a button, someone can teach a child a new language, read them a new book, or break down a math problem. On the other hand, excessive screen time can contribute to emotional and behavioral problems leading to more screen time used to cope and creating a negative loop (American Psychological Association, 2025).
As service providers, caregivers often look to us for guidance. Where do we draw the line?
Active and Passive Screen Time
Recommendations used to be made on time spent on screens but new recommendations focus more on the type of screen time (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2025). We can think of this as active vs. passive screen time.
Screen time is “active” when a child has to engage with it (beyond scrolling) to continue using it. Examples include:
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A puzzle game
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Video chatting
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Learning new skills
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Creating digital artwork
Screen time is “passive” when a child can use it without interacting beyond scrolling. Examples include:
There are some caveats to watching videos. For example, following along with a drawing tutorial on YouTube could be active since the child is engaging with the media by actively drawing. Another way to think about it is “creating” vs. “consuming.” Time spent creating is going to be a better use of screen time this summer!
Make a Plan
Now that you know the difference between active and passive screen time, you can take the first step in getting control of this summer by making a plan. Screen time can add up quickly, so it’s important to be intentional and plan for its role in your home. To do so, ask yourself the following:
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How much screen time do I want in our home?
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What kind of screen time is valuable to us?
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Is screen time getting in the way of other things?
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Am I aware of what kind of media my child is accessing?
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Am I modeling healthy screen time habits to my child?
Passive Screen Time
There is a way getting the most out of “passive” screen time by “co-engaging” in it with your child. When consuming passive screen time, try the following:
Watch Content Together
Watch television shows, movies, and videos with your child. Longer media, such as movies, can help children understand narrative structure and be useful for building literacy skills. Take breaks to ask open ended question or have a conversation afterwards to facilitate learning. Here are some questions to get you started:
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How does the character feel?
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Why do they feel that way?
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What is the problem?
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How would you solve the problem?
Take a Turn
Ask your child to teach you to play their favorite video game. Explaining the steps to complete a task is a great language activity, turning their favorite game into a learning opportunity. Try asking:
Safety
The internet is not a safe place for kids. Even sites that have restrictions can have harmful material slip past security measures. Caregivers need to be active in maintaining their child’s online safety and privacy. Safety strategies include:
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Be in the now! What apps, platforms, or websites does your child use?
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Use Parental Controls and monitor all online content
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Talk about and teach online safety and privacy
By making a plan to prioritize active screen time, limit/co-engage with passive screen time, and ensure safety, screen time can be a part of your summer – without becoming a problem!
For service providers, feel free to distribute this trifold brochure to promote healthy screen time for the children you work with.
Author: Katrina Johnson, M.S. CCC-SLP
