Screen time is something modern technology has given our culture that needs limits for your children as well as moms.

When it comes to our children, most of us know how unwise it is for them to be glued to a digital screen for hours each day. Even though we realize this, it is difficult to implement limits on our children because of the technological culture in our society today.

The real problem does not lie in the screen time behavior of our children but the limits we place on ourselves as moms.

The issue is not in placing guilt on you as a mom but helping you to see how much your children love, need, and want to have a relationship with you.

Screen Time Limits for Children

It is relatively easy to set guidelines for our children but often not so easy to carry them out. Society, in general, doesn’t see anything wrong with hours and hours spent on a device and so that creates a type of peer pressure.

You may have opposition from well-meaning relatives and friends if you set guidelines for your children’s screen time.

My phone does so many awesome things. Apps for grocery shopping, a camera, fitness apps, texting apps, you name it and there is an app you can download!

We can save so much time and get so much done on our phone, or can we?!

Because . . .

Notifications are constantly dinging and calling our name. We have just got to see who or what it is.

Meanwhile, we are pulled to our phones for what adds up to hours each day if we are not careful.

Our children are watching.

That is the real problem!

Screen Time Limits for Moms

We don’t want our children constantly on a device. We want them to go outside and play and experience life. They need to do homework!

But . . .

Are we as moms setting good examples? It would be a struggle for me too!

1. Whatever limits are good for your children are good  for moms
2. Do you stop scrolling when your child asks for help?
3. Do you read a text when driving? (Worse yet do you text back?)
4. Are you on a device while eating with your children?
5. Do you check Facebook while taking a walk with your kids?

We live in a culture that has to be connected every hour of the day. We chat with someone we never actually met through our phone and tend to disconnect with those right with us, our children.

We can’t even hear God’s voice speaking to us because of digital noise constantly calling us to action.

But we can change this and bring balance to our lives!

But Moms Need Grace Too!!

In everything, there needs to be grace.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

There are times we need to be present with our kids but there are times that our smartphones sure are helpful!!

• What about the mom nursing her sleeping baby in the middle of the night? I remember being that mom.  If I had a smartphone back in the day, I could have searched for solutions for infants.
• What about the mom in labor who is using her clock app to measure the time between contractions? She would only have to reach for her phone and get the timer going!
• What about the techy-savvy mom who is organizing her grocery shopping on an app?
• What about how quick and easy it is to set up a play date for your children and connect with other moms?

We don’t want to throw out the baby with the bathwater, but we want to use our phones wisely without having regrets.

Sweet moms, you can limit your time on your device while you are spending time with your children.

You can schedule device time before your kids wake up.

You can look at your child in the eyes when she asks a question.

Take a walk and keep your phone in your pocket, ready in case of an emergency.

BE with your children and love-on-them because they grow up too fast. You don’t want to look back with regrets.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
    the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
    are the children of one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
    who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
    when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. Psalm 127:3-5

So, use your phone to its limit (I think my smartphone is almost limitless) but with boundaries filled with wisdom.

Take the time to raise your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

That is something that you will never regret!!

Do you place limits on how much time your kids spend on a device? Do they balk at those boundaries? How can you balance your own time on a device so you can set a good example for them?

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