10/04/2025
If your child melts down when screen time ends, itâs not just about being âdifficult.â There are actually reasons behind screen time tantrums! đ
â Itâs hard to stop fun things â not just for kids, but for us, too. Sometimes, it helps to transition to something else fun (reading books or playing together) instead of going right to something they donât want to do.
Itâs also possible that the tantrum is related toâŚ
đ§ Temporary declines in executive functioning â Some kids tend to have a harder time self-regulating right after screen time.
đ Sensory overload â Fast visuals and loud sounds can overwhelm the brain, especially for kids with ADHD, Autism, or anxiety.
đş Modeling â If kids have been watching impatient or aggressive behavior from a character in the show, they might be mirroring some of that behavior.
đĄ The good news? Understanding WHY tantrums happen is the first step to managing them.
đĄ Figuring out your kidâs patterns can help you decide whether to take a break from screen time all together, limit it at a certain type or time of day, or just come up with a transition routine that helps ease the shift. For some kids, that might mean getting moving (run around outside, have a dance party), while for others a smooth transition involves calming down with books or a cuddle.
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