How To Reduce Screen Time This Summer

Summer brings with it long afternoons, fewer routines, and that familiar refrain: "I'm bored."

As parents, we know the challenge. The novelty of summer freedom can wear off surprisingly quickly, and when the heat rises, schedules loosen, or siblings run out of ways to entertain one another, screens can begin to look like an easy solution.

And yet, many of us also know that some of childhood's richest experiences happen in those unstructured moments. The fort built from blankets. The neighborhood adventure. The backyard potion. The imaginative game that somehow lasts all afternoon. The next-level art piece even they didnt know they were capable of. 

At Waldorf School of Baltimore, we often speak about protecting space for boredom—not because we want children to be bored, but because creativity, resilience, and self-directed play often emerge on the other side of it.

None of this means screen-free parenting is easy. Far from it.

So we turned to the experts: fellow Waldorf parents. Below, members of our own community share ten simple strategies that have helped their families reduce screen time, encourage independent play, and make the most of the slower rhythm of summer.

Make Boredom Your Buddy 

Children don’t need rescuing from their boredom. Boredom can lead to a wellspring of creativity. Parents, you are not responsible for entertaining your children; time for self-directed play is invaluable.

When my kids said, 'I’m bored,' I would tell them, you’re either tired or will come up with something creative to do soon. I might leave out a roll of duct tape and a pair of scissors near the recycling can. An hour later in the house was found an elaborate creation or a napping child. As they say, 'boredom is the mother of invention.'

Have Audio in Your Back Pocket 

For sick days, long car rides, or moments when you just need a quick “me” break, audio books and podcasts are a great option for some parents.

Library Playaways have been a game changer in our family. My kids (6, 9, 11) listened to books all the way to New Mexico and back over spring break and to Maine and back this summer.

As parents of two preschoolers, Sparkle Stories and We Nurture have provided to be excellent free resources for great engaging developmentally appropriate stories that hold our children’s interest.

 
Helping Hands

While the modern mindset tends to associate housework with something unpleasant, young children disagree. Even small tasks, like setting the placemats on the table or sweeping alongside you, can give kids a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Allowing my children (2,6) to join in with dinner prep, taking charge of a kid-friendly cooking task or washing dishes in warm soapy water (2), has been a joy, and seems to really build their self-esteem. There is a whole lot less complaining before supper when we all work together.

Rely on Rhythm

When children know what to expect each day, they know equally what not to expect—and that includes screen time.

We have Friday family movie night and the house rule that they only watch something on the weekend. That way they don’t even ask during the week.

Decenter the Screen 

Starting at a young age, avoid giving your TV prime real estate in your home. Keeping the screen temptation at bay may be as easy as moving the TV to a less central room of the house.

When it comes to TV, 'out of sight, out of mind’ has ruled the day for us. We made the decision early on to pack away the TV for a few years when my children were toddlers and suddenly became fascinated by the remote, and as a result have never found ourselves depending upon it.

Model, Model, Model 

When I saw the paper phones or computers emerge in creative play, I knew I needed to dial back my use in front of my children. One of my favorite lessons from Kim John Payne, author of my favorite discipline book, The Soul of Discipline, is to put your coat and shoes on first, and then the child will likely follow in imitation.

Children learn through imitation. We must examine our own relationship with screens (including phones!) and consciously model the behavior we wish to see.

Normalize Rest and Quiet Pauses

We have the quote 'Don’t just do something, sit there,' coined by mindfulness/mediation expert Sylvia Boorstein taped to our fridge like a family motto. It’s as much a reminder for me as for my children.

In our chatter-filled world, many of us have forgotten the fine art of sitting comfortably quiet with our thoughts. Not every silence needs to be filled.

 
Expect Messes

Our house embodies periods of creative mess. While it’s true I may be inwardly cringing at the couch cushions strewn throughout the living room, the pencil shavings all over the kitchen table, or the sound of the Lego box being dumped upside down—I also notice these are the times when my children are most thoroughly engrossed in the type of imaginative play so vital for their growth and development. We can always clean up later.

Creative play often  means messy play. Loosen your reins on keeping a spotless house for the time being and rejoice in the creative free play that is happening.

Lean on the Library 

One of the problems with TV is that it can replace creative free play; rather than developing their own fantasy world, children with lots of media exposure have the tendency to play out media characters instead. While many Waldorf parents prefer to sidestep characters with a fixed storyline altogether, others find a middle ground in books.

Reading the occasional Paw Patrol, Disney Princess, or Pokémon story at the library has helped our screen-free children more easily join in with peers at our neighborhood playground.

 
Make it Fun

The 1000 Hours Outside Movement, created by parent and PHD Ginny Yurich, is a new and noble  way to attempt to match nature time with screen time. For kids and caregivers with a competitive streak, meeting your daily quota can prove just the thing to opting nature over Nick Jr.

Last year we took the 1000 Hours Outside challenge, committing to spending an average of 2.7 hours outside every day of the year. Creating a family culture around prioritizing nature by tracking our adventure time together dramatically reduced the urge to turn to screen-powered stimulation. The kids take pride in filling in their hours each day, and I love all the memories we have made along the way.

Give Yourself Grace

World over, it’s been a hard year. Many have come to rely on screens in a way that we might not have before the global pandemic. Go easy on yourself, and approach family screen time with consciousness and a sense of what your own family values are.

For the times I intentionally turn on the tube, Common Sense Media has been helpful which media I allow my children access to. Their rating systems help me to double check it’s age appropriate and that the pacing is gentle. On the other hand, when I turn to TV out of desperation—I’ll stick to media I am already familiar with, and make sure to set a timer.