Families should agree on screen-time expectations before the school holidays begin, according to an RMIT University education expert.
Dr Elise Waghorn said the break often gives children considerably more free time, making it useful to establish boundaries before everyday routines change.
"The NSW Government’s announcement has put children’s screen use back into the spotlight and with school holidays coming up, many parents will be wondering how they are going to manage screen time when children suddenly have much more free time during the day,” Dr Waghorn said.
"Before the holidays begin, talk with your children about what screen use is going to look like. Depending on their age, involve them in setting expectations around when devices will be used and when they will be put away."
Her advice follows the NSW Government’s announcement of new screen-time limits in public schools.
From Term 1, 2027, Kindergarten to Year 2 students will have up to 15 minutes of individual device use each day. The limit will rise to 30 minutes for Years 3 and 4, and 45 minutes for Years 5 and 6.
Meanwhile, secondary school limits will be based on lesson time, according to the NSW Department of Education.
How families can set screen expectations
Rather than trying to remove screens altogether, Waghorn recommended setting simple boundaries around when devices can be used and when they should be put away. That could include keeping meals screen-free and making sure device use does not crowd out time outdoors, exercise or other activities children enjoy.
Those expectations should apply across the household, not just to children.
"Parents also need to think about their own screen habits. If we expect children to put their devices away at the dinner table, that expectation should apply to adults as well,” Dr Waghorn said.
Time away from screens does not need to be replaced with a packed schedule, either.
Dr Waghorn said parents don’t need to fill every screen-free period with planned activities. Children could also be left to manage some boredom on their own during the holidays.
"The aim is not necessarily to have a screen free holiday, and parents should not feel guilty because their children are using screens during the holidays either. It is about finding a balance where screen use is not consistently replacing sleep, physical activity, relationships and other things children enjoy doing,” Dr Waghorn said.
The Educator has previously reported on efforts to reduce screen time while increasing physical activity and on supporting healthier digital habits.
What the national guidelines recommend
Australian Government guidelines set age-based limits for sedentary recreational screen time.
Children under two should have no sedentary screen time. For children aged two to five, the recommendation is no more than one hour a day.
For children and young people aged five to 17, the Australian Government recommends no more than two hours of recreational screen time daily.
The two-hour limit does not include screen use required for schoolwork. Instead, Dr Waghorn said those guidelines could provide a useful reference point for families deciding what screen use should look like during the break.
"The aim is not necessarily to have a screen free holiday, and parents should not feel guilty because their children are using screens during the holidays either. It is about finding a balance where screen use is not consistently replacing sleep, physical activity, relationships and other things children enjoy doing.”