How to Handle Screen Time with Your Child with Autism

by Brittany Barger, M.Ed., BCBA
Behavior Consultant, Autism Spectrum Therapies

Summer can mean outdoor activities and family vacations, but it can also mean more time spent at home, with parents and caregivers scrambling to come up with a kid-friendly daily agenda, while managing work, running errands, and tending to countless other priorities. It should come as no surprise, then, that screen time is an easy “go-to” activity for families.

If you, like many parents, find your child spending more time in front of a screen than you would like, you probably ask yourself: Will too much screen time be harmful? How can I limit my child’s time on screens?

While research indicates some potential negative side effects for children who have prolonged exposure to screens,¹ let’s be real: in the 21^st century, it is nearly impossible to eliminate screens entirely. Still, it’s important to know that young children who spend more than two hours a day in front of screens may face an increased risk for developmental delays in language acquisition and communication skills,¹ and that violent and fast-paced content and overall screen time are linked to ADHD-related behavior.²

To parents of children with autism, this knowledge can feel daunting, considering that kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can have delays in communication and language acquisition, along with deficits in attention. But let’s not forget the tremendous influence we have on our children—and the many tools we can equip them with to manage their own exposure and create healthy habits around screen time. These self-management strategies can help immensely as they grow up and transition to adulthood.

How, exactly, can you foster healthy screen-time practices in your child with ASD? Here, I share four tips that I use in my own home with my son and in my clinical practice:

Create structure and routine

Home is often a less structured environment than school, so screen time can be a “filler” activity when a child doesn’t have anything to do. An easy way to reduce time on screens is to plan out what the day will look like with your child. As you plan, involve your child in the process as much as possible. And know that failing to plan is often a plan to fail—especially for kids with autism, who tend to rely on structure and routines to help them navigate the day.

To establish natural boundaries around screen time, designate time that your child will have access to their devices. This will help your child understand your expectations—and what they need to do before they can access to their electronics. For instance, you might say, “First you need to eat breakfast and shower.  Then you can watch 30 minutes of television.”

Modify the environment

Modifying your child’s environment is another easy way to reduce access to screen time. Removing computers, televisions, and tablets from bedrooms—and making devices available only in common spaces—allows you to monitor your child’s screen time more easily. Holding batteries, chargers, and power cords in a separate location that must be accessed by an adult is another way to limit or monitor exposure. These steps also encourage social interaction, given that your child must interact with you to access their electronics.

Keep in mind, too, that some devices allow you to set time limits, so that after a specified amount of time, the device will restrict access or lock particular screens. This sort of intentional planning will go a long way in creating an environment that sets up your child—and family—for success.