Watching one clip after another without pausing is a very different thing from an activity that asks your child to think, answer, or join in with their hands and voice. Before opening any app or video, ask yourself: is my child actually taking part, or just watching?

Interactive content — like educational games that ask for a tap or an answer — keeps your child engaged with their mind, not just their eyes.

Agree on how long and when with your child before the screen goes on, not in the middle of an argument or tears. Settling it in advance saves a lot of daily negotiating.

Use a consistent signal for when time is up — a timer, a song, or a familiar phrase — instead of switching the screen off suddenly and without warning.

Sitting with your child while they use an educational app, even for a few minutes, turns time alone into time together. It also gives you a chance to steer what they take from it with a few simple questions.

Ask your child afterwards what they learned or enjoyed; that turns the experience into learning that sticks, rather than just consuming.

Favor apps and content made for your child's age, free of ads and free of content that isn't meant for them, rather than letting algorithms auto-suggest whatever comes next.

A short screen session with purposeful content beats a long one spent scrolling aimlessly.