Screens are everywhere. They help us work, connect, and unwind, but they also compete for our attention in the most tender parts of family life. And for solo parents, who often carry the full weight of emotional and logistical responsibility, technology can feel both essential and overwhelming.
It’s easy to default to screen time just to get through the evening. But what if tech didn’t have to be the enemy? What if it could support your family’s values instead of competing with them?
Andy Crouch, author of The Tech-Wise Family, offers a compelling reminder: Technology should serve your family’s vision, not shape it. The question isn’t just how much screen time is too much? The real question is, what kind of life do you want to build together, and how can technology support that?
Start with a vision, not just a rule.
Before you set limits or introduce parental controls, take a step back and think about the bigger picture. What kind of environment do you want your kids to grow up in? What memories do you want them to carry?
Maybe it’s a home where dinner conversations happen without devices. Or a rhythm where weekends include walks, games, or creative projects. When you know what you’re aiming for, it becomes easier to build habits that support it.
Ask yourself:
- When does technology enhance our connection?
- When does it get in the way?
Build small, repeatable habits that bring peace.
You don’t need a total tech detox. But simple practices can reset your family’s relationship with screens in powerful ways:
- Create tech-free zones: Try making the dinner table or bedrooms places for connection, not consumption.
- Set daily “unplugged” hours: Even 30 minutes without screens after school or before bed can restore calm.
- Make room for analog fun: Board games, drawing, or outdoor time don’t just break screen cycles, they build memories.
The goal isn’t to control tech, it’s to use it with intention.
Technology isn’t the villain. But when we use it passively or as a default, it often undermines the very connection we long for. Watching a movie together or playing a game as a family can absolutely nurture closeness. But scrolling separately in silence often doesn’t.
Let technology be a tool, not the center.
When used intentionally, tech can reinforce what matters to your family.
As Andy Crouch points out, technology isn’t good or bad, it’s a tool. And just like any other tool, its value depends on how you use it.
You’re not going to get this right all the time, and that’s okay.
Some nights, survival mode will win. The TV will stay on longer than you planned. Your child might push against the new boundaries. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It just means you’re human.
Give yourself grace when it gets messy. And invite your kids into that same posture, reset together, talk openly, and start fresh when needed. What matters isn’t perfection. It’s progress.
You don’t have to figure this out on your own.
As a solo parent, you’re carrying a lot. Tech boundaries may feel like one more thing on a never-ending list. But you’re not in this alone. At Solo Parent, we’re here to walk alongside you with resources, encouragement, and a community that gets it.
Keyword Tags:
Healthy Tech Habits, Solo Parenting, Technology Boundaries, Family Connection, Screen Time Balance, Parenting Tools
