Set Up Parental Controls Before the Long Holiday

When school stops, screen time climbs. The long holiday is when devices fill the empty hours, and a few settings agreed in advance can prevent weeks of daily arguments about phones, tablets and games.

What to set up

Most phones and tablets have built-in controls for time limits, content filters and app approvals. Spend a few minutes setting daily limits, restricting purchases and filtering content to suit each child's age before the holiday begins.

Set limits per app rather than blanket bans where you can. An hour for games and unlimited reading or learning apps sends a clearer message than simply switching everything off.

Agree the rules together

Controls work best alongside a conversation. Explaining the limits, and agreeing them with older children, prevents the tools from feeling like a punishment. The goal is a calmer holiday, not a daily standoff over the same device.