How to manage your child’s screen time

Neurodivergent young people can struggle to manage their screen time in online games.

Find helpful tips for parents and carers in this guide created with support from Roblox.

In this guide

How online games impact neurodivergent children
How to promote balanced screen time in online games
Download the full guide for parents and carers
Explore more resources to support neurodivergent children in games

How online games impact neurodivergent children

Neurodivergent children who play online games experience many benefits. This includes developing skills related to collaboration, problem solving, communication and critical thinking. However, they are also more at risk of spending too much time in their favourite spaces.

Difficulties with transitions and executive function, hyperfocus and overstimulation can all contribute to too much time online. In some cases, children will feel like they’ve spent too much time gaming but cannot regulate themselves enough to switch gears.

This is why involvement from a parent or carer is so important. Regular conversations and check-ins, parental control limits, timers and more can all work together to help your child’s online experiences positively impact their wellbeing.

How to promote balanced screen time in online games

When it comes to screen time, ‘balance’ means spending time online doing a range of activities. While this includes taking breaks from devices altogether, it also means playing different games and using different apps.

For example, if your child plays Roblox, balance might include playing on another platform or using Roblox Studio to create a new game rather than just play one.

You can help create balance for your child by:

Setting screen time limits with parental controls. This can be for whole devices or individual games.
Asking them what kinds of games they like playing. This can help you find new games or activities that they might enjoy.
Using physical timers or reminders. Smart speaker routines or visual timers can help your child regulate their time spent playing games.
Fill in the breaks with engaging activities. Many children struggle to entertain themselves outside of devices, so make sure to have something else for them to do.
Check-in, chat and repeat. Changing routines, especially if your child spends too much time online, takes time and consistency. So, commit to checking in daily and reminding them of any screen time limits that are in place.

Download the full guide for parents and carers

Download the guide below to refer back to it whenever you need. In it, you’ll find tips, tricks and considerations to help your neurodivergent child manage their screen time while playing online games.