5 ways to reduce screen time on school nights

Here's how you and yours can give the phones, iPads and TV screens a much-needed break this September.

As the new school year approaches, now is an excellent time to start fostering some good habits and routines at home, and one area where we could all improve is less screen time.

From better concentration, to improved moods, the benefits of less screen time for children seem endless, but limiting screen time can be a tough one to navigate. If you'd like to take steps to reduce screen time for your children this back to school season, then you're in the right place. We've got some top tips on giving the phones, iPads and TV screens a much-needed break this September.

Lead by example

We're all guilty of going on our phones too much, and if you want to cut down on screen time, try leading by example, particularly when you're with your children.

Get outside

There's still plenty of glorious long evenings left to enjoy, so make the most of them while you can! Leave the phone at home, head to your nearest park, kick a ball around with your little ones or enjoy a hearty cycle. Once the fresh air and endorphins hit, your kids won't even notice the lack of screens!

Set boundaries

While it might not be entirely realistic to banish screen time completely, you can take time to set some limits on it. Make certain zones of your house, such as the dining room or the children's bedrooms, screen-free zones, and create a cut-off point to ensure they're not spending too much time on screens before winding down for bed. Certain apps and internet plans also have tools that allow parents to limit screen time.

Work on a project together

If you and your child share a hobby or a passion, try and work on something together on school nights to help pass time. Perhaps you both love music and want to learn how to play a song together? Or maybe there's a challenging Lego build you've been meaning to get around to? When they're in that flow state, they won't miss their phones as much!

Cook together

Getting your children involved in the dinner-making process is another brilliant way to keep them engaged. Pop on a playlist, grab some aprons and get cooking! To make things even easier, sign up for HelloFresh, which makes cooking together even more fun. With HelloFresh, your lot can feel more involved with the process, and they can even have their say in the meals you pick for the week.

HelloFresh is giving HerFamily readers an exclusive offer of 50% off your first box if you use the code HER50 at checkout. Follow the link here for more info and before you know it, you'll be whipping up a series of impressive meals with your little ones.