Turning off the iPad/console is the single biggest trigger in our house. He's deep in a world and yanking him out causes a meltdown every time. The 'one more minute' becomes ten. How do you land the plane?
4 replies
Tanya G
12 April 2026
Warnings tied to the GAME not the clock — 'finish this level/match then we pause'. The arbitrary 'time's up' mid-action is what sets them off. Natural stopping points changed everything for us.
Dave T
13 April 2026
We co-decide the limit BEFORE it goes on, written on the whiteboard, and a visual timer he can see. Surprise endings = war. Agreed-in-advance endings = grumbling but survivable.
raising_ramy
13 April 2026
Transition TO something, not FROM screens to nothing. 'Screens off, then we walk the dog/snack/whatever' gives the brain a landing spot instead of a void.
Tom N
13 April 2026
Natural stopping points + transition TO something. The void after screens-off is exactly when it falls apart. Makes total sense. Cheers all.
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