The school year is coming to a close, which means many kids are about to have a lot more free time—and a lot more time to spend online.
As a father, I know how important online safety is. That’s why I’ve passed laws to protect kids from addictive social media algorithms and predatory data collection.
Beyond policy, parents have a crucial role to play. That’s why my team and I put together this guide to ensure kids have a safe, healthy summer online. It includes tips and suggestions on screen time limits, parental controls, and conversations to have with kids about online safety.
I hope this guide helps you and your family have a safe, joy-filled summer.
Read the full guide.
Our Top Tips
1. Set Clear Screen Time Limits. Start with a family agreement. Having kids involved makes them more likely to stick to the rules.
You can decide what limit is right for your family. That could be:
Ages 2–5: 1 hr/day
Ages 6–12: 1.5–2 hrs/day
Ages 13+: 2–3 hrs/day
You can also build screen-free time into your routine, like no screens during meals or a morning "unplugged" hour.
2. Consider the Type of Screen Time. Beyond how much time your kids spend on screens, consider how they spend that time. Common Sense Media suggests thinking through these “four C’s:”
Connection. Are kids connecting on a personal level with what they're watching, playing, or reading?
Critical thinking. Does the content deep dive into a topic or skill?
Creativity. Does the content let kids create something new?
Context. How do their online activities fit into their larger world?
3. Use Built-in Parental Controls. Most devices and online platforms offer parental control tools you can activate to set limits on screen time and ensure kids aren’t accessing unsafe content. Use these tools to set daily time limits, app restrictions, and bedtime schedules.
4. Equip Your Home Network with Safety Tools. Set up a family-safe Domain Name System (DNS) to restrict inappropriate content across your home network.
Enable SafeSearch on your devices’ web browsers, and lock them so kids can't turn them off.
Many routers have built-in family profiles where you can pause internet access, set schedules, and filter content by device.
5. Talk About Online Safety. Talk with your kids about:
Strangers online. Remind them they should never share info with someone they don't know in real life.
What to do if something’s wrong. Make sure they know they can come to you.
Passwords and privacy. They should never share passwords, even with friends.
Thinking before they post. Have them ask: "Would I be okay if Grandma or my teacher saw this?"
6. Create a Balanced Summer Routine. Screen time is easier to manage when kids have other things to do. Fill their schedules with:
60+ minutes of daily physical activity
Reading time
Creative activities
Social time with friends & family