This plan is for you if:
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your house feels like a negotiation meeting,
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screens are taking over,
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your boy is either prickly or disappearing into his room,
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and you want something simple enough to actually do.
Two notes before we start:
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The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes there isn’t one perfect “safe hours” number for every child, and encourages families to focus on healthy habits and a plan that fits their kid. AAP
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Their Family Media Plan tool pushes practical ideas like screen-free zones and screen-free times (especially before bed). HealthyChildren.org+1
The rules of this reset
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10 minutes a day (more is optional)
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One change at a time
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Warm + firm
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Repair over perfection
DAYS 1–3: Reconnect (before we correct)
Day 1 — “Side-by-side time” (10 minutes)
Do something next to your kid: snack, walk, dishes, car ride.
Script: “No big talk—just hanging out. I missed you.”
Day 2 — 2 questions, no fixing
Ask:
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“High/low of the day?”
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“Anything you want me to know?”
Script: “You don’t have to have answers. I’m just here.”
Day 3 — Name the goal
Script: “I’m not trying to control you. I’m trying to help our home feel calmer and safer for both of us.”
DAYS 4–7: Add one boundary (calmly, consistently)
Day 4 — Pick ONE non-negotiable
Choose:
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phones out of bedrooms overnight, OR
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screen-free dinner, OR
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homework before gaming
Script: “Here’s the new rule. It’s not a punishment. It’s a house standard.”
Day 5 — Set a screen-free bedtime buffer
Screens can interfere with sleep (light + stimulation), so we’re aiming for calmer evenings. PMC+1
Script: “New rule: screens off at __ because your brain deserves a landing.”
Day 6 — Add a “when-then”
Example:
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“When the dog is walked, then gaming starts.”
Script: “This isn’t about earning love. It’s about routines that work.”
Day 7 — Repair + reset day
If you messed up (we all do), model repair.
Script: “I didn’t handle that well. I’m sorry. I’m going to try again.”
DAYS 8–11: Build belonging + responsibility
Day 8 — Choose one meaningful chore
Not busywork. Real contribution.
Script: “You’re part of this team. Your help matters.”
Day 9 — Create a “third place”
(Home and school don’t count.)
Library, gym, club, job, volunteering.
Script: “Let’s find one place where you can belong off-screen.”
Day 10 — Mentor step
Pick ONE safe adult to strengthen connection with (coach, uncle, neighbour, teacher).
Script to adult: “Would you be open to a quick check-in with him once a week?”
(If you want: link your free Mentor Map printable from Blog #1 here.)
Day 11 — One kindness standard
Script: “In this house, we don’t use cruelty as a personality.”
DAYS 12–14: Teach skills (not just rules)
Day 12 — Emotional regulation move
Teach one tool: walk, cold water splash, music, push-ups, journaling.
Script: “Feeling angry isn’t the problem. What we do with it is.”
Day 13 — Internet discernment
Script: “If content teaches you to hate people or blames women for everything, it’s not ‘truth’—it’s manipulation.”
Day 14 — Lock in the “family agreement”
Write 3 lines together:
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“What we value”
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“What we don’t do”
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“What we do when we mess up”
Script: “You’re not a problem to fix. You’re a person we’re growing.”
Quick add-on: Preschool screen guideline note (for moms of littles)
If you’re parenting younger kids too, the Canadian Paediatric Society guidance for preschoolers commonly recommends keeping routine screen use around an hour or less per day. Caring for Kids+1
No shame—just a helpful anchor.
