73% of teachers want screen time limits, here's what to do
Teachers Favor Daily Limits on Student Device Use, Survey Finds
A majority of teachers support imposing daily limits on students’ use of devices during the school day, reflecting mounting concern over how classroom technology and entertainment screen use affect children’s routines.
Gallup survey data cited by teletherapy provider VocoVision found that 73% of teachers strongly or somewhat favor a maximum amount of daily device time for students. The company also cited U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that children spend seven to nine hours a day using entertainment screens.
The issue has gained attention as schools continue to rely on laptops and tablets for instruction while parents seek ways to manage children’s device use outside the classroom.
Kathryn Steele, VocoVision’s director of clinical services and a child psychologist, said families should distinguish between educational, interactive device use and passive consumption. Reading on a device or completing an interactive lesson can require engagement, she said, while activities such as endlessly scrolling social-media posts are more passive.
Steele advised parents to establish predictable routines rather than abruptly ending device use. Giving children limited choices—such as selecting a program or activity while adults set the transition time—can make screen breaks easier to manage, she said.
She also recommended creating a list of non-screen activities for children to choose from when they finish using a device. The options can include outdoor activities, time with siblings or peers, reading, or other preferred hobbies.
For bedtime, Steele recommended keeping screens out of the hour before sleep, arguing that device use can disrupt melatonin release and circadian rhythms. Families can set clearer boundaries by keeping bedrooms screen-free during the wind-down period, she said.
VocoVision, founded in 2011, provides teletherapy and remote education services to schools and school districts.