How do I handle screen time over the mid-term break?

The calmest way to handle screen time over a mid-term or half-term break is to agree a simple holiday plan with your children before the break starts, rather than making it up day by day. Keep a few fixed screen-free anchors in each day (meals, time outside, wind-down before bed), agree what has to happen before screens go on, and let the rest be a bit more relaxed than a school week. Holidays don’t need stricter rules, just clear ones.

Every family is different, and a week off is meant to feel like a break for everyone, parents included. A lazy morning with cartoons or an afternoon gaming with friends isn’t a problem in itself. What tends to cause the arguments is not knowing what the rules are.

Why holidays are harder

During term, school, homework and bedtimes give the day a shape, and screens fit around it. Take that away and the default can quietly become “screens unless someone says no”, which leaves you saying no all day.

The family support charity Family Action suggests keeping rules clear, consistent and predictable, and explaining any exceptions you make for holidays. It also suggests focusing on how screens are used as well as how long: a video call with a grandparent, a creative game with friends and hours of scrolling short videos are not the same thing.

For a sense of overall balance, the HSE advises agreeing limits for children aged 6 and over based on each child’s needs, and suggests trying to keep screen time to two hours a day or less. On a rainy holiday that may feel ambitious, and that’s fine; think of it as a direction, not a test.

Have the chat before the break starts

Ten minutes at the weekend, or on the first morning, is enough. Sit down together and agree:

1. The anchors. Two or three screen-free parts of the day that don’t move. The HSE suggests screen-free times or zones such as dinner and bedrooms (HSE).
2. “Screens after”. What happens first each day, such as getting dressed, something outside or a job around the house. The HSE suggests letting children earn screen time by doing other activities first, like playing outside.
3. How much, roughly. A daily amount, or a morning and an afternoon slot. Older children can help decide.
4. The end of the day. When devices go off and where they charge overnight. The HSE notes children sleep less well with screens in their bedrooms.
5. What’s different about holidays. A movie night, a later finish for a gaming session with friends. Saying it up front avoids “but you let me yesterday”.

Family Action suggests a traffic light approach that many children find easy to understand: green for screen use that’s always fine (a call with a relative), amber for things that are limited (gaming with friends) and red for the things with the tightest limits (Family Action). Explain what’s in each colour and why.

If you’d like to write it down, our guide to making a family screen time agreement that sticks has a step-by-step version you can adapt for the week. Sharing the plan with grandparents or anyone else minding the children helps too; the HSE suggests doing exactly that.

Let the devices do the reminding

Family Action points out that parental controls and device timers reduce conflict, because the limit isn’t resting on you in the moment (Family Action). If you haven’t set them up yet, the start of a holiday is a good time:

• Screen Time on an iPhone or iPad
• Family Link on an Android phone or tablet
• Parental controls on a Nintendo Switch

You can usually loosen a daily limit for the holiday week and tighten it again when school starts, rather than switching it off. And when time is up, our tips on getting children off a screen without a meltdown can help.

Have something ready to say yes to

Saying no to a screen is far easier when there’s something to say yes to. The HSE lists simple options like hobbies, small jobs, toys and board games, dancing and colouring (HSE). Family Action suggests a holiday activity chart, outdoor play, sports, library visits and crafts, and makes the reassuring point that a little boredom often leads children to find something to do on their own.

You don’t need to fill every hour. One planned thing a day, even a walk to the shop or a trip to the library, gives the week some shape. For more ideas, see what kids can do instead of screens on a rainy day and how to get kids playing outside more.

Internet Matters also suggests spending some screen time with your child: finding out what they enjoy online and doing it together. A holiday week is a good chance to have them teach you their favourite game.

Friends’ houses and sleepovers

Holidays mean more playdates, and other families will have different rules. Family Action’s advice is to treat that as normal, and to talk to your child beforehand about what you expect and why (Family Action). Be realistic: if friends have phones, screens will probably feature.

If you’d like a lighter-touch option, you can host at your house, or ask the children to leave phones with an adult during certain activities. If you need to raise it with another parent, Family Action suggests keeping it warm and practical, along the lines of “this is what tends to work for us”, and remembering that their house has its own rules.

What to do next

• Have the ten-minute chat before Monday. Agree two or three screen-free anchors, what happens before screens go on, and when devices go off at night.
• Adjust, don’t remove, the device limits. Loosen the daily limit for the week in Screen Time, Family Link or the console app, and put a reminder in your phone to tighten it when school starts.
• Plan one thing a day. A walk, a library visit, a board game or a friend over. It doesn’t need to be big or cost money.
• Go easy on yourself. Some days will be screen-heavy, especially if it rains or you’re working. One busy day doesn’t undo the plan; just pick it back up tomorrow.