When Screens Take Over — How Parents Are Setting Better Tech Limits
When Screens Take Over: How Parents Are Making Tech Limits Work Better
Most parents know this moment all too well: you call your child's name, but they don't look up from their tablet. Dinner is ready, the sun is still up, and you're talking to the top of their head.
We've all been there.
Screens aren't bad in and of themselves; they've helped a lot of us get through long car rides, snow days, and, let's be honest, Zoom school. But a lot of parents in Indiana are changing their minds about how much is too much and coming up with new ways to set tech limits that work.
"I just want my kids to remember the backyard more than the iPad," one mom from Fishers told me.
This is how families in the area are getting back their time, connection, and peace of mind without giving up all screens.
Why Screen Time Can Take Over So Easily
Screens have quietly become the default because of streaming shows, video games, and social media. Kids are tired after a long day of school and sports. Parents are worn out. The couch looks nice, and before you know it, two hours have gone by.
It's even easier to get into screen routines here in Central Indiana, where winters can be long and dark.
Experts and parents both agree that too much time spent in front of a screen can affect sleep, focus, and mood. A lot of people are noticing a difference when they start to set limits.
What Parents in Indianapolis Are Doing Differently
This is what I've seen from real families in Carmel, Noblesville, and Greenwood who are finding a balance that works for them.
1. Setting aside "tech-free" hours
Some families pick a certain time each day when they turn off their screens.
For instance, no devices from 5 to 7 p.m. (dinner, homework, or playtime) • The kitchen is where phones and tablets charge overnight, not the bedrooms.
When kids can't use a screen, they find other things to do so quickly.
2. Turning the backyard into the new hangout spot
A lot of parents are realizing that spending time outside is the best way to get over screen fatigue.
The goal is to make the backyard fun again, whether it's with a trampoline, a firepit, or a game of tag.
A dad from Carmel said, "After we cleaned up the yard and got rid of the mosquitoes, the kids started playing out there every night."
It's true that a Blue Duck Pest Control treatment can make your yard feel like an outdoor living room again.
3. Being a Good Role Model
This one is hard. Kids learn by watching what they see.
Parents in Fishers and Zionsville say they put their phones away at dinner or leave them inside when they go outside to play.
Kids tend to follow your lead when they see you not glued to your phone or tablet.
4. Connecting instead of using screens
Limits on screen time don't work unless there's something better to do instead.
Parents in Indiana are making simple changes: • Board games with the family after dinner • Baking nights (fun but messy) • Movie nights in the backyard on Fridays • Walks to the local park after doing homework
These little things make memories that last longer than any YouTube video.
5. Not just policing tech, but also talking about it
Some families are choosing to talk about how their kids use screens instead of telling them to "stop using them too much."
Is the app creative or dumb? Does it make you feel like you belong or stressed?
A parent from Noblesville told me:
"Once my teen thought about how screens made him feel, he began to set his own limits." I didn't have to fight him anymore.
Why It's Worth the Trouble
Setting limits on how much time kids can spend in front of screens at first seems like swimming upstream. You'll hear the complaints. The sighs. "Everyone else gets to!"
But something amazing happens when you keep going.
The house is more peaceful.
People start talking to each other again.
You hear more than just the sound of a notification ding; you hear laughter.
And that, more than anything else, is what makes it worth it.
Last thought: Less time on screens, more time in real life
You don't have to quit cold turkey or throw away the tablets. You just need to find a balance and make a plan that works for your family.
So have dinner without screens. Get kids to play in the backyard. Charge devices in places other than the bedrooms. And once in a while, you might want to join your kids in their world as well. Watch their favorite YouTube channel together or play that video game with them.
In the end, though, healthy tech habits for families in Indiana aren't about control. They have to do with connection and making more things happen in real life and off the screen.
