Look Past the Screen

Limits work better alongside one quiet question: what is the gaming doing for your child?

If they game mainly to escape loneliness, anxiety, or boredom, cutting screen time only treats the symptom. The pull usually fades when the underlying need is met.

So pair your rules with real alternatives: time with friends, a hobby they choose, movement, and a calmer evening routine. A screen-free day the whole family shares makes the limit feel fair rather than aimed at them.