School’s out, the sun is up, and summer should be the season of backyard adventures, scraped knees and sticky Popsicle fingers. But for many families, summer break now comes with a new set of worries: How do we keep our kids off screens—and connected to real life? 

A local mom recently shared her own lightbulb moment after a routine doctor’s visit for her kids. “The pediatrician asked about their diet and exercise but then came the question—'How much screen time are they getting?’” she recalls. “That hit differently this time, because I knew summer was coming and I didn’t want our days swallowed by YouTube and Roblox.” 

Her concerns aren’t unique. More and more parents are noticing that longer, unstructured days can quickly become a binge-fest of gaming, scrolling and TikTok trends—while the bikes, books and basketballs sit untouched. 

Arlene Pellicane, author of “Screen Kids,” points to alarming trends that began around 2012, when smartphones and social media access became ubiquitous. According to Pew Research, in 2012 only 34% of teens used social media “many times a day.” By 2018, that number had doubled to 70%. “What used to be a few close friends is now being replaced with hundreds of followers,” Pellicane said. “And kids are mistaking that quantity for quality—but it’s a very shallow way to live.” In fact, Pellicane likens social media to a garbage dump: “Yes, you can find something good in the dump. But what’s your kid most likely going to pick up? Trash.” 

Summer can be either a breeding ground for boredom or a time to reclaim what childhood was meant to be. We’ve traded bikes for iPads and treehouses for TikTok. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Pellicane challenges parents to rethink boredom. “Boredom is not the enemy,” she said. “It’s the birthplace of imagination.” But boredom plus a smartphone? That’s a recipe for trouble. “When kids are left alone with screens all day—especially during summer when supervision might be looser—they’re not just wasting time. They’re shaping their brains for instant gratification.” She points to how tech companies design content to be addictive. “The YouTube algorithm isn’t thinking about your child’s character. It’s thinking about watch time. And that’s a war for your kid’s attention.” 

Behavioral shifts in children are often the first indicator that something isn’t right. Pellicane emphasizes the importance of gut instinct when it comes to noticing the signs. “If you feel like you’re constantly battling with your child to put the device down—at dinner, during homework, at bedtime—that’s a red flag,” she said. “If your child used to love soccer but suddenly wants to stay in their room gaming all day, you’ve got a problem.” 

To help families regain control this summer, Pellicane offers clear and compassionate advice in setting summer boundaries that stick: “Be the parent. Don’t be afraid to set the rule, even if your child protests. That’s your job—not to be popular, but to be wise.” Here are a few of her summer-specific tips: 

• Create a Summer Screen Schedule: Decide ahead of time how much and when screen time is allowed. “If there’s no structure, screens will always win,” Pellicane said. Use a timer, or have a checklist: chores, reading and outside play before any screens. 

• No Phones at the Pool or Beach: “Summer is meant to be felt. Let your kids swim, dig, splash, get dirty. That’s where the magic happens.” 

• Use Screens with Purpose: Need a rainy-day activity? Find a documentary or a creative video tutorial—not just mindless content. “Use screens as a tool, not a crutch,” Pellicane said. 

• Digital Sabbath = Summer Reset: Pick one day a week where the whole family unplugs. “We do ultimate frisbee on Sundays,” she said. “Do something that builds memories and gets your hands in the real world.” 

Pellicane says parents need to weigh what’s truly at stake. “Every hour on a screen is an hour not spent outside, not creating, not talking, not growing. It’s an opportunity cost.” The mom from the pediatrician’s office reflected on this too. “We realized we had to go first—putting our own phones away to model what it looks like to be fully present. Summer is short. We didn’t want to waste it scrolling.” 

Pellicane’s mission is simple: Help parents raise kids who can thrive offline. “Screens aren’t going away. But they don’t have to take over,” she said. Give your child the gift of a real summer. One where the memories aren’t filtered, cropped or liked—they’re lived.  

Learn more about Kids and Screen Times on Holly’s Highlights podcast Season 2 Episode 29, available on all podcast platforms and at www.hollycurby.com. λ