How Can Families Balance Screen Time During Spring Break?
By Julie Diamond, OCT
Spring break, or March Break as it’s called in some provinces, is a wonderful opportunity for families to unwind, connect, and create lasting memories. However, managing screen time during this period can be challenging.
This guide offers practical strategies to help your family enjoy technology responsibly while embracing enriching activities.
While technology can offer educational and entertainment value, excessive screen time may lead to:
Disrupted sleep: Blue light from screens can interfere with melatonin production.
Missed family connections: Devices may distract from meaningful in-person interactions.
Overstimulation: Constant screen exposure can overwhelm children, especially younger ones.
Establishing healthy boundaries ensures that spring break is both relaxing and enriching for the whole family.
1. Create a Spring Break Screen Time Plan
Without regular school routines, children might gravitate toward screens during downtime. A structured plan helps balance technology use with other activities.
How to Create a Plan:
Set daily limits: Determine reasonable screen time allowances for various activities, such as gaming, watching TV, or educational purposes.
Define screen-free zones: Designate areas like the dining table, bedrooms, or family gatherings as tech-free.
Involve your children: Collaborate to create the plan, ensuring their input fosters buy-in and accountability. We allow a maximum of 2 hours of screen time per day (weekends too) at our house but my stepson gets to choose when he gets the screen time. Some nights he has 15 minutes then a break then an hour, and so on. Giving him this control seems to help him buy into it and get creative with how he spends his time.
Example Rule: "We'll enjoy 45 minutes of a family movie each evening, followed by unplugged time for board games or LEGO."
2. Offer Engaging Alternatives to Screens
Providing captivating offline activities is an effective way to reduce screen time. Spring offers numerous opportunities for creative and active fun.
Outdoor Activities to Try:
Explore a Sugar Bush: Visit local maple syrup festivals to learn about the syrup-making process and enjoy fresh maple treats. For instance, White Meadows Farms offers sugar bush treks during weekends from March 1 until April 13, 2025, and daily during March Break (March 10-14).
Nature Hikes: Embark on spring hikes to observe budding flora and active wildlife. Try a sensory walk where you ask your child to name 1 thing they can taste, 2 things they can smell, 3 things they can feel, 4 things they can hear, and 5 things they can see.
Geocaching: Engage in a modern-day treasure hunt using GPS devices to find hidden caches in your area.
Create a Reading or Music Listening Nook: If possible, set up a cozy corner away from the hustle and bustle of the traffic in your home, for your child to relax, unwind and curl up with a book or listen to calming music. Check out one of our blogs with steps to set up the perfect study space for ideas.
Indoor Fun Ideas:
Baking and Cooking: Try new recipes together, perhaps incorporating maple syrup acquired from your sugar bush visit. Try making the Canadian classic - Maple Pudding Cake - from Quebec to enjoy the maple syrup.
Arts and Crafts: Create DIY projects, such as painting or building models, to stimulate creativity. We had a LEGO morning and I completed my first LEGO set of 500 pieces. I forgot how relaxing putting together a LEGO set can be!
Reading Corner: Set up a cozy space with books from various genres to encourage reading.
These activities not only reduce screen use but also foster family bonding and create lasting memories. For more fun and educational activities to do with your child, check out our blog “What are Some Activities to Keep My Child Learning and Engaged This Spring?
3. Use Technology Creatively
Not all screen time needs to be passive. Encourage children to engage in tech activities that stimulate creativity and curiosity.
Creative Screen Activities:
Digital Art Projects: Utilize apps like Canva or Procreate to design digital artwork.
Video Production: Write, film, and edit a short family movie or documentary.
Music Making: MusiQuest is a free and fun way for kids to explore music and create a song as a beginner and all the way through to advanced song making.
Focusing on creation rather than consumption helps children develop valuable skills.
4. Plan Tech-Free Family Traditions
Spring break is an ideal time to establish screen-free traditions that bring the family closer.
Ideas for Unplugged Traditions:
Game Nights: Host evenings dedicated to board games or card games.
Storytelling Sessions: Share family stories or create new ones together.
Outdoor Picnics: Enjoy meals together in local parks or your backyard. Encourage your child to make their own lunch or snack, or if you feel they are capable, cook a dish for everyone to try.
Outdoor Learning: With the weather warming up, you can combine learning and physical activity outdoors with some of these fun activities.
These moments foster connection and provide a welcome break from digital distractions.
5. Schedule Screen Time Around Family Events
Prevent screens from dominating special moments by setting intentional tech boundaries.
Tips to Manage Screen Time:
Device-Free Hours: Implement no-screen periods during meals or family activities.
Engage in Preparations: Involve children in planning and preparing for family outings or events. This helps them feel a part of the events and builds their excitement.
Protect Sleep Routines: Avoid screens at least an hour before bedtime to support healthy sleep patterns.
By keeping tech use in check, you'll create space for meaningful interactions.
6. Monitor and Choose Quality Content
Ensure your child's digital activities are both safe and enriching.
How to Monitor Effectively:
Use Parental Controls: Set up restrictions to block inappropriate content.
Preview Content: Review apps, games, or shows before your child engages with them.
Select Educational Programs: Choose content that aligns with your family's values and promotes learning.
Suggestions for Quality Content:
Educational Apps: Platforms like Epic! for reading or Scratch for coding.
Family-Friendly Games: Games that encourage creativity and teamwork.
Documentaries: Nature or history-focused programs available on streaming services.
7. Be a Positive Role Model
Children learn by example, so modeling healthy screen habits is crucial.
How to Lead by Example:
Limit Personal Screen Use: Reduce your own device usage during family time.
Engage in Shared Activities: Replace individual screen
8. Plan a Digital Detox Day
Give your family the gift of an unplugged day. Choose a day during spring break to fully disconnect from screens and enjoy offline activities.
What to Do Instead:
Visit a local museum or historical site.
Host a storytelling night where everyone shares their favourite springtime memories.
Unplugged days provide a refreshing reset and encourage deeper family connections.
9. Celebrate Progress and Stay Flexible
Balancing screen time isn’t about perfection - it’s about creating harmony. Celebrate small successes and allow room for flexibility, such as a movie night or an extended video call with loved ones.
How to Stay Positive:
Praise or reward your child for following screen time rules.
Reflect on what worked well and adjust for future breaks.
Focus on quality family time over rigid schedules.
Why Balance Is Key
Spring break should be about joy, connection, and meaningful experiences. By managing screen time thoughtfully, your family can enjoy the best of both worlds - the benefits of technology alongside the warmth of unplugged moments.