How do parents reduce screen time without scream time?

We can do better as a family when it comes to discipline and communication. Managing emotions is key.

- June Yong

School holidays are in full swing. With the children at home all day, for some parents it's no holiday, though. Many are fretting over how to control their kids' screen use, and how to make productive use of their time.

Apart from going away on holiday, or signing the kids up for various sports or enrichment camps - both of which involve hefty sums of money - what else can we do to occupy them meaningfully?

Some of us are already getting nightmares thinking about the nagging, scolding and endless negotiations with the kids.

"Mummy, can I get an extra 30 minutes of game time?"

"Dad, can I not do the dishes today? My body is aching..."

Or worse, you've already given an ultimatum, but they have totally ignored it and are still going at their on-screen game - resulting in you fuming, exploding and threatening to kill the Wi-Fi.

Is there a better way?

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SCREEN TIME

Just before the holidays started for my Secondary One boy, he asked us if he could earn extra game time by doing chores.

We listened as he presented his pitch: folding the clothes or buying food for the family would earn him an additional 15 minutes of game time daily.

Although most parenting experts would frown upon the giving of game time as a reward, since it would be further entrenched as an object of desire, we decided to give him the green light. It seemed a reasonable request, and since then he has been able to keep largely to the limits we've agreed on.

We were hopeful it would motivate him to keep up with his chores without us nagging. We were also keen to avoid a combative stance on tech use, as we have heard stories from more experienced parents that it can lead to heightened tensions with their young teens.