Come September, my two daughters’ senior school is rolling out a no smartphone policy during the school day, and as a mum of teens, I completely understand the mixed feelings. They were frustrated. And to be honest? I get it. Helping teens manage screen time isn’t easy, especially when phones have become a part of their identity… they’re like a second skin! But here’s the truth: we’re not just managing tech… we’re managing the impact it has on their connection, confidence, and emotional wellbeing, something we work on every day in our M.Y.T.E (Manage Your Thoughts and Emotions) programmes.
What We’re Losing to Our Screens
When I look around, whether it’s in coffee shops, classrooms or even our own living room, I see something quietly slipping away: real human connection.
We’re talking less. Looking up less. And when we do talk, it’s often with one eye still on a screen. I’ve noticed it in my girls, and honestly, in myself too. It’s not judgment… it’s just reality. And it’s making things harder for our kids, not easier.
Helping teens manage screen time means helping them reclaim things like:
- Eye contact
- Presence
- Patience in conversation
- The ability to sit with discomfort or boredom without distraction
And this matters more than we realise. Because without those things, we become less emotionally aware, less socially confident, and less connected to others, and most importantly… ourselves.
What It’s Doing to Their Health
Just last week, one of my daughters had her eyes checked. Her eyesight has worsened, and the optician was clear: constant screen use is contributing to vision problems in children and teens.
This isn’t a one-off. It’s a trend.
Some eye-opening stats:
- Teens now average 7 to 9 hours of screen time per day, outside of schoolwork.
- Excessive screen time is linked to poor sleep, increased anxiety, and lower emotional regulation.
- A 2023 UK study found that screen-heavy teens report more loneliness and lower mood than those with screen limits.
Helping teens manage screen time isn’t just about rules. It’s about recognising that their brains, bodies, and hearts are being overstimulated… and they don’t always know how to cope.
The Heart of the Matter: Reconnection
In our M.Y.T.E programme, we teach tools that support kids and teens to self-regulate in the moment, especially when they feel overwhelmed, anxious, or overstimulated. One of those tools is called FEEL, and it’s all about ‘reconnecting to the heart.’
Through simple breath and focus practices inspired by HeartMath™, young people learn to:
- Calm their nervous system
- Reconnect with their body
- Feel safe, present, and grounded
- Tune in to themselves and others
This is powerful stuff, and exactly what screens are slowly pulling them away from.
In fact, when a young person reconnects with their heart, they become more coherent. That means better focus, better communication, and a stronger ability to cope with everyday life. That’s where the change begins.
Why This School Policy Might Be a Gift
Of course, my girls aren’t thrilled about the upcoming phone policy. It’s uncomfortable. It feels unfair. But discomfort is often the doorway to growth.
By reducing screen access during the school day, they’ll be given space to:
- Reconnect with friends in real time
- Be more engaged in lessons
- Learn to sit with boredom or stillness
- Feel more present, not always plugged in
Helping teens manage screen time isn’t about punishment.It’s about protection… and more than that, possibility. What could they discover about themselves with less noise? And what might they gain when they look up?
What Can We Do at Home?
As parents, carers, and educators, we can help teens navigate this shift by:
- Setting gentle phone-free times (e.g. mealtimes, before bed)
- Talking openly about how screens make us feel, not just the teens, but us too
- Leading by example (yes, the hard one!)
- Practising tools like FEEL at home, even just a few minutes a day
Final Thoughts: Less Scrolling, More Feeling
This isn’t about banning phones forever. Phones aren’t the enemy… disconnection is. And helping teens manage screen time is really about helping them reconnect with who they are, how they feel, and what really matters.
At MYTE, we’re passionate about giving kids and teens the tools they need to do just that. If you want to explore how our FEEL tool (and others in our 4-step M.Y.T.E programme) can support young people in your school or home, we’d love to chat.
Now more than ever, they don’t just need boundaries. They need support. Connection. And us adults to guide them. Because with the right tools and a little space to breathe, they can thrive , both online and off.