Help Children Unplug and Thrive This Summer
As summer begins, it’s the perfect opportunity to encourage children to spend less time on screens and more time exploring the world around them. Discover the benefits of unplugging, why it can be challenging, and practical ways to inspire fun, screen-free adventures and lasting memories.
Summer is here, and you know what that means – trying every trick in the book to get the kids off their devices, out of their rooms, and exploring the real world.
With the social media ban for under-16s coming into force in spring 2027 anyway, summer is the perfect time to help children and young people get used to the idea of spending less time in the digital realm and more time exploring our weird, wild, and wonderful planet.
Don’t know where to start? Join us as we uncover the benefits of screen-free time, why it can be difficult for foster kids to put devices down, and our top five tips for helping them unplug this summer so you can make memories you’ll never forget.
Why screen-free time matters
You’ve likely heard a lot about the pros and cons of screen time – and how it is one of those things that’s okay just so long as it’s used in moderation, and the content is helpful and not harmful to a child’s safety, mental well-being, or development.
But have you ever thought about the benefits screen-free time can have on children and young people? Here are our top seven:
Embracing boredom
Yes, giving children the chance to be bored can actually be beneficial for them. It encourages creativity, problem-solving skills, and time to process emotions, rather than using distractions to temporarily push them down.
Moving more
It’s probably no surprise that getting children to take a break from screens leads to more physical activity. Whether it’s a kick about in the park, a gentle stroll in the woods, or building a den in the garden, screen-free time will help maintain your foster child’s physical well-being.
Improved mental health
From doom scrolling and comparing their lives with others to accessing harmful content, too much screen time can cause anxiety, depression, and other serious mental health problems in children and young people.
Putting down devices and spending time with the people they love, doing something they enjoy, or just getting outside can improve mental well-being.
Better social skills
Everyone needs time to themselves to relax and unwind. But if a child or teenager regularly chooses to spend time alone on their devices, rather than interacting with friends and family in real life, they could become isolated.
Screen-free time can encourage kids to see people in the flesh, leading to better social skills and stronger friendships.
Living in the now
Screens can prevent us from living in the moment and make conversations with someone who is constantly attached to their phone frustrating.
Taking some time away from devices gives children the chance to appreciate the simple pleasures in life, like the pitter-patter of gentle rain, a terrible joke, or simply talking to people who make them feel safe and loved.
Learning opportunities
Although children and young people can learn a lot from educational content online, some things are just best experienced in real life and can help learning stick.
For example, watching a video about the solar system might be useful, but learning about it while observing the moon, planets, and stars through a telescope makes it much more interesting and engaging.
As a result, children and young people are more likely to enjoy the experience, absorb the information, and remember what they were taught.
Discovering new things
If a child or young person relies heavily on screens for entertainment, emotional regulation, or relaxation, they might miss out on discovering new and more effective ways to meet these needs.
Whether you take them to a museum, book an activity, or get them to listen to your carefully curated playlist, encouraging your child or teenager to put down their phone and try something different might lead them to discover a new favourite hobby or interest.
The challenges of unplugging for foster kids
Discussions about screen time seem to be popping up everywhere – at home, online, in schools, and even within the government. The problem is, these discussions often imply that every child is the same, neglecting the fact that some have had very difficult starts to life, and others may be neurodiverse or have other additional needs.
For children in care living with trauma, devices can provide a sense of comfort, familiarity, and an escape from painful memories that make it difficult for them to manage daily life.
As a result, they might find reducing screen time extremely challenging, scary even, leading to big emotions and an unwillingness to try something new. This is because their devices have become a coping mechanism, and having to switch them off to experience new things might be anxiety-provoking rather than exciting for them.
That’s why they need your help to reduce their screen time and find new ways to cope with their thoughts and feelings. If you are struggling for ideas, our top 5 tips are a good place to start.
5 Tips for reducing screen time this summer
Validate your foster child’s experiences
Before you start taking steps to reduce screen time, the first thing you should do is talk to your child or young person about it and involve them in the decision.
You could explain your plans to reduce screen time and ask them how they feel about it. They might show big emotions, tell you how their devices help them, or something else, but whatever they say, make sure you listen to them and validate their experiences.
From here, you can create a plan together, so you’re both on board, and your child or young person isn’t blindsided when you start implementing changes.
Transition slowly
If your child regularly uses a screen, simply removing it from them without warning could trigger intense emotions. So transition slowly, adapting their schedule over a few weeks until less screen time becomes routine and a new activity takes its place.
When it’s time to come off their device, make sure you let them know that they have 5 minutes left or use visual timers so they can see for themselves.
If they do become distressed, encouraging them to engage in activities that release that pent-up frustration can help, such as bouncing a ball, jumping on a trampoline, or stamping their feet in the garden.
Give them choices
Children in care have had little say over the experiences that led them into care, which can make it difficult for them to allow others to make decisions for them.
You can help them by giving them choices. For example, if you want to reduce their device usage to one hour a day, let them decide what time of day they want to use it.
And if you’re planning to remove their devices at the end of their screen time allowance, let them decide where their phone, tablet, or laptop will sit, so they know it’s safe and accessible in an emergency and that no one else can use it while they aren’t.
Think about what they actually enjoy
If you want to replace screen time with fun summer activities, think about what your child or young person will actually enjoy, so they look forward to it.
For instance, if your teenager likes photography, you could take them out on a nature walk and encourage them to practice their hobby. If they enjoy music, you could book tickets to a concert or festival nearby and create a playlist together before you go.
You could also allow children to use their devices to connect with the activity you’re doing through Apps. Merlin Bird can help you identify which birds are singing in your garden, PlantNet can tell you which plant you’re looking at with just a photo, and you’ll all have fun using the Geocaching app to go on scavenger hunts.
Don’t overcomplicate it
Reducing screen time doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need to come up with an elaborate plan or spend lots of money on activity after activity just to keep your child or young person occupied.
Building a fort, pond dipping or planting a garden together are all easy things to do that will entertain the kids while also nurturing your bond.
We’re here to support you
At ACS, we’re here to help you guide children and young people in your care to make healthy decisions that will benefit them now and in the future.
That’s why our support for foster parents includes up-to-date guidance and training on topics like internet safety and limiting the amount of time kids spend in front of screens.
We also organise regular events and activities for the whole family to enjoy, which will help you get the kids out of the house and make new positive memories.
Find out more about ACS
If you’d like to learn more about becoming a foster parent with ACS – one of the UK’s first faith-based and cultural fostering agencies, we’d love to hear from you.
Call us today on 0800 9177 937 or submit your details via our online form. A member of our experienced team will be in touch to answer your questions and help you decide whether fostering is right for you and your family.
