Screen time is often the moment parents finally get to do something else, and that's understandable. But even a few minutes sitting next to your child while they play can change what those minutes are worth. When an adult is there, asking questions and showing interest, an app becomes something to talk about rather than something to disappear into. This article suggests simple ways to share screen time without taking it over.
Why sitting together helps
- You see what your child actually does. Which games they choose, what they find easy, where they get stuck.
- It turns tapping into talking. Explaining a choice out loud makes children think about it more carefully.
- You can model good habits. Reading instructions, trying again after a mistake, stopping when time is up.
- You notice problems early. Content that isn't right for their age, or a game that leaves them frustrated.
You don't need to sit together every time. Even one or two shared sessions a week make a difference.
Before: choose together
- Look at the app together first. "What do you do in this one? What do you like about it?"
- Agree on what you're doing today. "Let's do two puzzles together, then you can play on your own for a bit."
- Set the scene. Sit side by side where you can both see the screen, rather than looking over their shoulder from behind.
During: be curious, not in charge
The screen belongs to your child during this time. Your job is to be an interested companion.
- Let your child lead. "Show me how this works." Children often love being the expert.
- Ask how, not just what. "How did you know that was the one?" "What made you choose that?"
- Wonder out loud. "Hmm, I'd never have thought of that. Why does that work?"
- Resist taking the device. Even when you can see the answer, keep your hands in your lap. Point or ask instead.
- Celebrate the thinking. "You checked every row before you chose. That was smart."
| Instead of… | Try… |
|---|---|
| "No, tap that one!" | "What do you notice about that one?" |
| Taking the tablet to do it yourself | "Can you show me what you've tried?" |
| "Well done, you're so clever." | "You kept going and found it. How did you work it out?" |
When a puzzle is hard
Hard moments are the most valuable ones to share.
- Wait first. Give your child time to think before you say anything.
- Ask a small question. "What's the same about these two?" "What's different?"
- Think aloud together. "Let's try this one… no, that doesn't fit, because…"
- Make mistakes normal. "That didn't work. Now we know one thing it isn't."
After: connect it to real life
- Ask your child to teach someone. "Can you show Grandma how that game works?"
- Find it outside the screen. If the app was about patterns, look for patterns on the way to the shop. If it was about counting, count the stairs together.
- Talk about how it went. "What was the hardest part today? What helped?"
When you can't sit together
- Keep devices in shared spaces, like the living room rather than the bedroom, so you can glance over now and then.
- Check in for a minute. "What are you working on?" is enough.
- Ask afterwards. "Tell me one thing you did today in the app."
In Dologi, many puzzles let your child choose an answer first and then tap "Check". That small pause is a natural moment to ask "Why do you think it's that one?" before checking together.
In short
- Sitting with your child for part of screen time turns an app into a conversation.
- Let your child lead, ask how they think, and keep your hands off the device.
- Share the hard moments: wait, ask small questions and think out loud together.
- Connect what they did to real life, and keep devices in shared spaces when you can't sit together.
Read more: Turning off the screen without tears: agreeing on screen time and giving a warning