Here's the framework in 60 seconds:

P — Plan

Set boundaries BEFORE the device comes out. Not during a meltdown. Define when, where, and how long — and make it visible (written on a whiteboard, printed out, agreed on together).

A — Act

Follow through calmly. No threats, no yelling, no "one more minute" that turns into 30. The plan is the plan. You're not the bad guy — the agreement is.

C — Coach

Teach your kid WHY you're doing this. Help them notice how they feel after different types of screen time. Build self-awareness, not obedience.

E — Evaluate

Every 2-4 weeks, sit down together. What's working? What's not? Adjust the plan. Kids who help shape the rules follow them better.

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This is the overview. The full Digital Parenting course walks you through each step with examples, scripts, and tools for different ages.

Use code LAUNCH for $18 off → just $29 for the full framework.

Not all screen time is bad. But here's how to tell when it's crossed a line:

1. They can't stop without a fight. If every "time's up" turns into a negotiation or meltdown, the screen is running the relationship.

2. They've lost interest in things they used to love. Sports, drawing, playing outside — if screens have replaced everything, pay attention.

3. Sleep is suffering. Blue light + stimulating content + late-night scrolling = exhausted kids with short fuses.

4. Mood crashes after screen time. If they come off a device angry, irritable, or emotionally flat — that content is doing something.

5. They're hiding their usage. Sneaking devices, clearing history, lying about what they watched. Secrecy = shame or dependency.

What to do about it

The instinct is to take everything away. But cold-turkey bans usually backfire — they create sneakier kids, not healthier ones.

What works is a structured approach: clear boundaries + coaching + gradual self-regulation. That's what PACE is built for.

Most parents have no idea how much screen time their kids actually get — or what kind.

Before you can fix anything, you need to know what's happening. Run through this in 5 minutes:

The Audit

1. Total daily hours — Track for 3 days. Include school devices.

2. What type of screen time?

• 🟢 Creative (making videos, coding, art)

• 🟡 Social (messaging, group chats, social media)

• 🔴 Passive (scrolling, watching, autoplay)

3. When does it spike? Before school? After dinner? During homework?

4. What's the trigger? Boredom? Avoidance? Habit? Peer pressure?

5. What's the reaction when you ask them to stop? Calm? Meltdown? Negotiation?

What This Tells You

If most screen time is 🔴 passive and the reaction to stopping is intense — you have a pattern to address, not a kid to punish.

This is step 1 of the PACE framework. If you want the full system, check out the Digital Parenting course →