Screens Off, Sleep On
Introduction
Okay, team—here we go.
We’ve all seen the headlines and heard the conversations about kids and screen addiction. Screens are everywhere. They’re useful, but they’re also tough to manage. Instead of ignoring the issue, let’s tackle it together—and keep it simple. No extreme screen bans. No guilt. Just one small change in the place it matters most, and that's bedtime.
The hour before bed is the best time to power down. Kids’ brains need a chance to slow down, not speed up. Turning screens off before bedtime helps them relax, sleep better, and wake up more focused the next day.
Think of it as a reset—not a punishment.
Gather Materials
Note: Small parts pose a choking hazard and are not appropriate for children age five or under. Be sure to choose lesson materials that you feel are safe for your child and that you are comfortable letting your child use.
Activity
Screens are easier to turn off when something else is ready to go:
- Start with play! Card games, puzzles, block play, or dice games can be great alternatives after dinner.
- A warm bath for calm, relaxed water play.
- Reading together or looking at books.
- This needs to become a routine, the same way the screen is. EVERY night, the same routine.
- Creating a new routine and having a plan in place will make this a smoother transition.
Kids who wind down without screens sleep better, focus longer, and handle emotions more smoothly. That calm carries into the classroom in a big way. This isn’t about being anti-screen—it’s about giving kids what their growing brains need most Sleep. We’re not aiming for perfect. We’re aiming for better.
- Make it predictable. The same time each night leads to fewer arguments.
- Announce it, don’t negotiate it. “Screens turn off at 7:30” works better than “five more minutes.”
- Bridge the transition. The last five minutes, sit close with your child, ask about the game, make eye contact and conversation. We call this the hand-off. This is key to a successful shutdown.
- Screens need bedtime too. Charging devices outside bedrooms helps everyone.
- Start where you are. Even 20 screen-free minutes is a win.
- Expect some pushback. That doesn’t mean it’s not working. For a child, it means it’s new.
And bedtime is a really good place to start. If you’d like to read more tips about developing a bedtime routine, we have one for you here on the Ready Child blog page.