Balancing summer freedom & screen time

Bengaluru

With the onset of the summer vacation, children have stepped away from academic routines, offering a much-needed break. However, for many parents in metropolitan cities such as Bengaluru, the holiday brings a different set of concerns. As children remain at home for nearly two months, working parents – often with limited leave – struggle to balance professional commitments with keeping their children meaningfully engaged. This has increasingly given rise to a modern parenting challenge: managing boredom among children, which often leads to excessive screen time and growing digital dependency.

With limited supervision during working hours, many parents worry about how to ensure their children remain productively occupied. Sharing his perspective, dance instructor Praveen from Genesis Studio, Bengaluru, suggests a balanced approach. “Parents can consider enrolling their children in summer camps or structured activities for a month, while dedicating the remaining time to unstructured exploration and family interaction,” he said. He emphasised that while children spend much of the year in school environments, summer holidays should offer them the freedom to explore their interests.

This period can also serve as an opportunity for children to connect with their cultural roots, engage in creative pursuits, and build stronger family bonds alongside recreational activities. Reduce screen time “To reduce screen time among children, a ‘3S’ approach is essential – comprising screen-free zones, screen-free activities, and self and parental regulation,” said Manoj Sharma, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences and coordinator of the SHUT Clinic.

Explaining the framework, he said the creation of clearly defined screen-free zones is crucial. These include spaces such as dining areas and bedrooms, as well as designated periods of ‘digital fasting’. He also stressed the importance of avoiding screen use during meals and maintaining sleep hygiene by discontinuing mobile phone usage at least one hour before bedtime. Dr Sharma further noted that screen-free activities should focus on both physical and cognitive development.

Recommended activities include outdoor exercise, learning musical instruments, reading and discussing books with peers or parents, solving puzzles, and engaging in creative pursuits such as scrapbooking. Social engagement is important, with activities like helping with household chores, participating in family storytelling sessions, and organising outings or picnics. Emphasising the role of supervision, he said self and parental regulation are critical in managing children’s digital habits. This includes setting daily screen-time limits through built-in applications or reminders, prioritising quality offline engagement, and regularly monitoring usage patterns.

Let them be free “Parents should let children join summer camps or classes during their holidays, as these spaces allow them to interact freely with peers and encourage exploration,” said Vidya Viswanath, a freelance fine arts instructor who has been conducting creative art camps for several years. She explained that her classes move beyond the confines of four walls, offering children the freedom to explore within a safe and supportive environment. According to her, children enjoy engaging with colours and creative expression – opportunities they often miss due to academic pressures and time constraints. She added that the same holds true for physical activities, which are equally essential for their development.