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Parenting

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How do you manage screen time for a 13 or 14-year-old?

2 replies

Mumofgirls82 · 13/07/2026 22:41

Help! How do you manage your 13/14 year old screen time?
My DD is suspected ADHD and if we had no screen limits, she would happily sit on her phone for hours all day long.
She an hour a day screen limit during the week during term time, but we’ve just started the holidays and it quickly goes and then she asks for more time. She cannot self regulate at all and will drip feed checking her phone all day long if allowed. It is such a huge distraction for her and she cannot focus if asked to do anything.
it got so bad we recently said she could only use her phone when she asked us which feels ridiculous but we’re running out of ideas!
Another thing is snap chat - I haven’t allowed snap chat and she is saying she is the only one of her friends that doesn’t have it and she feels left out not having it because all her friends are talking on it…but what is the point in giving it now when the government rules come in to force soon for no social media for under 16s and presumably all her friends will all have to delete the app?

Argh I just feel like I’m not getting it right and would love to hear how other parents manage screen time, especially if their kids have ADHD.

OP posts:
unlikelychump · 13/07/2026 22:44

My child has adhd (and autism). She has a 2 hour limit on her phone. No social media. Limit of 20 mins on Pinterest. Her sister who is a year younger has the same (14 and 13).

They have parental controls. If they remove the supervision they lose the phone.

I might be strict but that is fine by me. My adhd-er has no impulse control either. I am trying to teach her this self awareness but will keep her limited until she has developed that skill a bit more.

unlikelychump · 13/07/2026 22:45

Oh if they are for more time i basically say no, except for very special occasions. My dh will say yes often and they nag him non stop. Boundaries are good.

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