What Do You Do About Your Child’s Over-Use of Screens and How They Are Affecting Their Mental Health

In today’s digital world, every parent faces a familiar scene: a child, tablet in hand, lost to notifications, endlessly scrolling. It seems harmless at first. Yet emerging evidence shows that overuse of screens can influence mental health, mood, and connection in children and teens. For parents who want to help their children feel happier and more connected, understanding the impact of screen overuse is the first step. At Forest Lake Camp, we help campers unplug and reconnect with life beyond devices which is a powerful antidote to digital overload.

Here’s how you can begin making changes at home with a simple checklist of four steps and then, for step five, consider a truly transformative option: a tech-free summer experience at camp. Whether you’re worried about your child’s mood, peer relationships, sleep, or focus, these steps can help set a healthier path. If you’re looking for a trusted summer camp for kids or one of the top summer camps for teens, we’ll explain why unplugging this summer may be exactly what your family needs.

Why Screen Over-Use Matters for Mental Health

It’s not just about the hours. New studies show that children and teens who spend 4 or more hours a day on screens are significantly more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2025), teens with 4+ hours daily screen time had depression symptoms at 25.9% vs 9.5% for those below 4 hours and anxiety at 27.1% vs 12.3%. CDC

Similarly, research shows that it’s not always total time but addictive patterns of screen use (especially social media, gaming, mobile phones) that predict worse mental health outcomes and even suicidal behavior. JAMA Network

And for younger kids, a large scale review found that higher screen time and socio-emotional problems tend to reinforce each other over time, creating a cycle that is hard to break. Contemporary Pediatrics+1

These findings matter because they link screen habits not just to X hours lost, but to mood, focus, peer connection, sleep, and ultimately the social and emotional well-being of your child.

Four Simple At-Home Checklist Items

Here are four actionable things you can do now to reduce risk and help your child reclaim time, focus, and connection.

1. Establish Clear Tech Boundaries
Set firm limits: designate screen-free zones (bedrooms, dinner table) or times (one hour before bed). Evidence shows that when screen use is reduced—even for two weeks—children show improvements in emotional health and peer interactions. PsyPost – Psychology News Encourage “device off” times so the family can reconnect: talk, play games, go for walks together. When you lead by example, children follow.

2. Promote Alternatives: Active, Creative, Real-World
Replace idle screen hours with active or creative tasks: drawing, reading, crafts, outdoor play, sports. This is especially important because excessive screen time is partially linked to poor sleep, reduced physical activity and later behavioral concerns. arXiv At home, create a “fun list” of non-screen ideas and rotate them. Encourage your child to pick one each evening. Watch how they rediscover curiosity beyond the device.

3. Improve Sleep & Routine
Screens often steal sleep. Late night use or devices in the bedroom can disrupt the body’s natural rhythms, making mood and focus suffer. The CDC study noted irregular sleep routines and insufficient rest were strongly associated with high screen time. CDC Make screens “off” at least 30-60 minutes before bed. Use night-mode filters. Limit blue light. Encourage a calming bedtime activity: reading, storytelling, gentle music instead.

4. Monitor Use & Talk Openly
Don’t treat screen time like a mystery. Monitor not just hours, but how your child uses their devices: Are they endlessly scrolling? Gaming late? Using social media as escape? Research shows addictive patterns—not merely hours—are stronger predictors of negative outcomes. Columbia University Medical Center Sit down with your child and make a game plan together: what they feel comfortable reducing, what they want to do instead, how you’ll support each other. Open communication matters.

5: Consider a Tech-Free Summer Experience

If you’ve completed the checklist above and still feel your child needs a deeper reset, then a summer camp with minimal device use can be transformative. At Forest Lake Camp we believe that unplugging creates space for kids to connect, grow, and thrive.

Why choose a summer camp for this? Because in a camp setting your child will:

• Sleep better, move more, and engage real conversations instead of notifications.

• Discover friendships built face-to-face—not via text.

• Learn skills, leadership, resilience, and confidence outside the digital bubble.

• Return home refreshed, more present, and ready to tackle academics, relationships, and life with renewed energy.

For families looking for the best summer camp, a summer camp near you (in the Northeast) or a place that works for younger or older campers alike, this is the moment to act. Forest Lake Camp, nestled in the Adirondacks, provides a safe, supportive, and impactful environment. We serve kids and teens who want an experience beyond screens. Finally, the summer they’ll remember is the one where they were fully present not passively scrolling.

Learn more about how our friendships form and call us at 518-623-4771 to explore how Forest Lake Camp can support your child’s next step.