Reducing Screen Time for Toddlers: Cold Turkey or Gradual Change?

Question: How do I eliminate screens for a 3-year-old who has been previously using them? Should I take it away cold turkey? My husband and I are disagreeing over screen time use.

Answer: This is a great question! Screen use is a common concern for many parents of young children.  

Not only do families handle media and technology use in many different ways, but parents may also differ in their readiness to make changes, especially when those changes affect an established digital routine. That’s why conversations with a spouse about media use can feel challenging. For suggestions on how to collaboratively discuss media use with a spouse, see this previous portal response.  

Should you eliminate screen time? 

It’s wise to have boundaries and balance around screens for young children because screen use is linked to delays in language, poorer sleep, and weaker social-emotional development. To learn more about the effects of screen use on young children, review two of our past portal responses: Health Effects Of Young Kids Being On Screens Too Long & Screen Time Limits for Young Children. 

That said, research does not support a single “right” approach when it comes to technology in the home, as every family and child is different. 

If your 3-year-old has already been using technology, that is ok. There are many ways to do it right for your household and family. Instead of going “cold turkey,” you and your husband could sit down and make a plan for your child’s technology use. When making your plan, consider questions like: 

• Where? (In which rooms can they use screens?) 
• When? (What times of day/days of the week can they use screens?) 
• What? (Which shows or videos can they watch?) 

Tips for Reducing Technology Use and Setting Boundaries  

If you want to reduce your child’s technology use or set some initial boundaries for early childhood screen use, some options to consider include: 

• Limit screen use to a common room of your home, such as a TV in the living room. 
• Set time boundaries. The amount of screen media time that works for your family should be based on your needs and schedule (perhaps school nights vs weekends). AAP generally recommends less than one hour per day for toddlers and preschoolers.  
• Set consistent times for screen use. Having a regularly scheduled time for screens allows children to know when they can expect to use them and can reduce some of the requests for screens outside of those times. For example, one hour of screen time around 4pm in the afternoon or only on weekend mornings. 
• Minimize on-demand mobile device use. For example, only use a tablet during long trips. 
• Limit viewing to only high-quality, child-centered content that integrates principles of child development into its design, like PBS KIDS or Sesame Workshop.  
• Use technology together with your child. For young children, co-viewing or joint media engagement can help build strong relationships and support learning. 
• Create screen-free times for the entire family. Set times without technology for play, sleep, reading, movement, homework, meal time, family time, etc.  
• Crowd in other activities. Ensure your child has time for other activities like physical activity, music, arts and crafts, and socializing with peers.  
• Use parental controls. Set controls on devices like time, downloads, contacts, and purchases. 
• Use shared devices. Only allow your child to use shared devices. Personal tablets are designed primarily for solo use, which makes it more difficult for parents and caregivers to monitor. 

Our Early Childhood Development and Screen Time Toolkit has many resources for parents to help choose quality content, reboot your family’s tech life, manage emotions when transitioning away from technology, and more! 

Eliminating Screen Use: Prepare in advance 

If you decide going cold turkey with technology is what works best for you and your family, that’s okay too. Young children don’t need technology to learn or play. However, be aware that your child might experience an “extinction burst” when screens are first removed. Extinction bursts occur when objects or behaviors that were previously allowed are suddenly stopped. In response, your child’s negative behaviors like complaining, whining, or questioning may intensify before they begin to decrease. If you decide to eliminate your child’s screen use, it’s important that you and your spouse are on the same page about keeping consistent limits while your child experiences these emotions. After a few days, your child will get used to the new routine, but just be prepared for possible behavioral reactions at first. You can handle it! 

References 

• Munzer, T., Parga-Belinkie, J., Milkovich, L. M., Tomopoulos, S., Ajumobi, T., Cross, C., Gerwin, R., Madigan, S., Psych, R., Radesky, J., Evans, Y., Cahan, E., Milkovich, E., Bracho-Sanchez, E., Parga-Belinkie, J., Munzer, T., Espinoza, J., Husain, A., Patel, A., & Shapiro, I.. (2026). Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents: Policy Statement. Pediatrics.   
• Williams, E., & Radesky, J. (2025). The 5Cs approach to digital media: Empowering families and professionals to foster healthy screen use for young children. International Journal of Birth and Parent Education, 12(2).  

Age: 2-6 

Topics: Early childhood, screen time 

Role: Parent/caregivers