How to Help Your Child Unplug from Screens During the Holidays

What if the holidays weren’t just screen time in disguise?

It’s that time again — the break your child has been counting down to. No school, no homework… just free time. And yet, that freedom can all too easily get swallowed by hours of screens: video games, YouTube, messaging apps, and everything in between. As a parent, it’s easy to go from “They deserve to relax” to silently worrying, “Are their eyes even blinking?”

The truth? You’re not alone. Many parents struggle with striking a balance between letting their kids unwind and keeping screen time in check, especially during school breaks. But helping your child unplug doesn’t have to mean a total screen ban. Think of it as guiding them to reconnect — with boredom, with creativity, and, most importantly, with themselves.

Why screens become the default — especially during holidays

When children are in school, their days are structured—they know what’s expected and when. But holidays? They’re a blank canvas. That openness is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. For many kids, screens offer certainty: instant entertainment, no risk of failure, and a sense of control in a sometimes chaotic world.

It doesn’t help that many games and apps are designed to be intensely engaging and even addictive. Especially for children aged 6 to 12, who are still learning to self-regulate, switching off the tablet can feel like a punishment rather than a transition.

Creating slower rhythms at home

Instead of trying to rip the screens away (never a peaceful process), it’s often more effective to slow everything else down. Kids don’t need to be endlessly stimulated — in fact, they often flourish when they’re given time to be a little bored. That’s where creativity, games, and emotional regulation begin to bloom.

Start with your environment. Can you make certain parts of the day screen-free by default? Maybe mornings start with breakfast and no devices. Or evenings include story time no matter what. Creating predictability in screen-free moments can lower resistance and reduce negotiation battles.

And if you need practical steps to begin, this guide to creating screen-free moments in a hyper-connected family is a thoughtful place to start.

Offer bridges, not ultimatums

What helps most is not removing screens entirely but offering rich, engaging alternatives that don’t feel like a big drop in stimulation. For example, rather than issuing an abrupt “Time’s up!”, try: “Let’s pause the video for now — we’ve got something fun planned.” Then follow through with something truly engaging: it could be getting outside, baking something together, or diving into a world of storytelling.

Audio stories are a wonderfully gentle way to transition from screens. They stimulate imagination without overstimulating the senses, and allow a child to enter a story world while still being connected to the real one. Apps like LISN Kids offer a wide library of original audiobooks and audio series designed for ages 3 to 12 — perfect for screen-free downtime during holidays. You can explore it easily on iOS or Android.

For more on why audio content can be so effective — and soothing — for younger children, this article is worth a look.

Play is not the enemy of rest

It’s easy to assume that kids want passive relaxation (like videos) more than active play during their time off. But many times, it's not that they don't want to play — it's that they’ve forgotten how to get started without a screen telling them what to do. You can help by co-creating moments of unstructured play: building a couch fort, scavenger hunts in the backyard, even something as simple as drawing up plans for a DIY comic book.

Also, don’t overlook video games entirely. Not all games are fast-paced, loud, or overstimulating. Some are creative, calming, and wonderfully suited for thoughtful kids. If you’re trying to find games that offer more than just aggressive energy and flashing lights, here’s a list of calming games that could be a great middle ground.

Embracing a more balanced routine — together

One powerful yet often overlooked strategy? Modeling. If your child sees you constantly scrolling or checking devices, the message is clear. But if you carve out even ten-minute periods to read, take a walk, or just sip tea and stare out the window — that’s teaching, too.

And remember: change doesn’t come overnight. Transitioning from heavy screen use to a more balanced holiday rhythm is a process. Some days it will go beautifully. Other days, screens may win. That’s okay. What matters is the overall direction — and that your child feels you as their ally, not their warden.

Need more support navigating when screen curiosity begins at a very early age? You might appreciate this perspective: My 4-Year-Old Already Wants to Play Video Games — What Should I Do?

In the end, the goal isn’t total disconnection — it’s deeper connection. With story, with play, with family… and with the quiet joy of doing nothing in particular.