Regulating Screen Time

These resources are designed to help you complete your Action Plan for Step 1 - Regulating Screen Time. If you would like to see any additional information on this page, please let us know in the Digital Parenting Community.

On this page, we will be addressing the following items:

• Reviewing the downloadable resources that accompany this step
• Learning approaches for auditing your own device use
• Reviewing approaches for implementing software time limits across different devices

Downloadable Resources

The PDF files for the Family Screen Time Plan and the Bible Study on Time can be found below.

Auditing Your Device Usage

The first part of your Family Screen Time Plan includes analyzing your own device use. There are tools to help in this self-audit depending on which platforms you use on a regular basis. For most people a single tool will not provide the necessary information. Most people use a collection of devices (phone, computer, televisions, gaming console, etc...) that don't all report the same type of information. You will have to use tools alongside manual reporting to get an accurate picture of your screen time usage.

Apple Devices

Apple has provided an integrated tool to track your screen time across iPhones, iPads, iPod Touches and Macs. This tool, screen time, provides reporting on how much time you are spending on these devices as well as what you are doing during that time. This tool is free to use. You can see the links below on how to set this tool up for yourself.

• Setup Screen Time for Yourself on an iPhone
• Setup Screen Time for Yourself on an iPad
• Setup Screen Time for Yourself on a Mac

There are also third-party tools can provide a greater level of detail. The downside is that these tools do have a cost. If you are exploring a paid option, we recommend the Timing App for Mac. This app can also integrate with your screen time reports for iOS to get a complete picture of your device usage.

Timing App

Android Devices

Google provides a feature, Digital Wellbeing, that can track the amount of time you spend on your Android device. This tool provides the ability to audit your usage and even put time limits in place.

Setup Google Digital Wellbeing

Implementing Software Time Limits

Below you will find instructions on how to implement screen time limits on common platforms. The instructions will be provided for the most recent version of the platform. If you have an older version and need instructions, please let us know in the Digital Parenting Community.

iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch

If you are using an iPhone or an iPad, you can manage screen time limits using the Screen Time feature of iOS. This works alongside the Screen Time feature for MacOS. The Screen Time feature goes well beyond just time limits, so feel free to explore the other settings offered by this tool.

Setup Screen Time on iOS

Mac

If you are using a Mac, you can also leverage the Screen Time feature. It is able to work alongside the iOS version, so that you can get a view of time spent across all of these devices.

Setup Screen Time on MacOS

Android and Chromebook

Google Family Link is an app that enables you to control your child's device settings using specific parental controls. These controls include screen time limits. We will be using this took to implement additional boundaries in the weeks ahead. Feel free to explore the other settings offered by this tool.

NOTE: If your child was provided a Chromebook from their school, your ability to control your child's Chromebook may be limited. If you run into this challenge, please let us know in the Digital Parenting Community.

Setup Google Parental Controls

Microsoft Windows and Xbox

Microsoft Family Safety provides a way to setup controls for specific Microsoft accounts that are respected across Windows computers and Xbox consoles. These controls include time limits. We will be using this took to implement additional boundaries in the weeks ahead. Feel free to explore the other settings offered by this tool.

Setup Time Limits on Windows and Xbox

Sony Playstation

Sony provides a way to setup parental controls with time limits for PlayStation 4 and 5 consoles using the play time feature. You can manage this via Sony's website for PlayStation accounts.

Setup Time Limits on Sony Playstation

Nintendo Switch

Nintendo provides parental controls that can be adjusted either on the Switch console or through their parental controls app. This feature enables you to setup time limits and a curfew for the device.

Setup Time Limits on Nintendo Switch