Screen Time Meltdowns: What’s Really Going On

If you’re a parent in the modern world, you’re likely no stranger to the battle of the screens. Screen time can be a double-edged sword. While there can always be too much of a good thing, screens can also help keep a child engaged, support regulation, and provide educational opportunities. The problem seems to come when it’s time to shut it down for the day. This is a moment where many kids seem to go from zero to 100, bringing tears, aggression, or completely shutting down. This can be frustrating for parents and can lead to a lot of unnecessary guilt. 

Here is the reality: you aren’t failing as a parent if your child has or has had screen-related meltdowns. It’s a common occurrence, and is typically about much more than simply wanting more screen time. 

Screen Time Upset: Tantrum vs. Meltdown

Nobody wants to see their child upset, but it’s important to differentiate between a tantrum and a meltdown - and yes, they are different. When a child throws a tantrum, they are acting out in pursuit of something they want, and that stops when they have achieved their goal. On the other hand, a meltdown occurs where there is a loss of control. Their nervous system feels overwhelmed, and all reason goes out the window. This isn’t a behavioral flaw, it’s an automatic response from their body. This is why, especially for autistic children, screen time transitions can trigger a meltdown. 

Screen time can be a valuable regulation tool for children with autism, bringing predictability, control and a sense of safety. When that comfort is removed suddenly, especially without preparation, it can feel deeply unsettling. It may appear to be an overreaction to an outsider, but it’s really a stress response as the body activates fight-or-flight mode. Dysregulation is magnified after the screen activity has ended, because the body and brain are forced to adjust quickly to the stimulation of the screen. This can be avoided by not only practicing healthy screen time habits, but by supporting transitions more strongly. 

Limiting screen time is always an option, but there are strategies found within ABA therapy that can help create a better experience. ABA therapy considers what happens before, during and after screen use to determine the best ways to ease into and out of a situation. Some helpful strategies include:

• Predictable Routines: Designate certain times for screen time, so it’s less of a surprise

• Visual Timers or Countdowns: Set a timer to help prepare for the transition 

• First/Then Language: Statements such as “First we turn off the tablet, then we can read a book” set expectations and ease into the transition.

• Transition Objects: Providing a transition object - something they find comfort in such as a fidget toy or favorite stuffed animal - can lessen their anxiety while moving between activities.

• Learning Coping Skills: ABA therapy helps teach and practice realistic coping skills outside of moments of meltdown so they can learn what works for them while regulated. 

All of these suggestions help your child’s brain understand and prepare for change, instead of feeling like it’s happening unexpectedly. Screen time transitions aren’t always going to go smoothly, but implementing supportive strategies can make a meaningful difference. 

How ABA Therapy Can Help Improve Screen Time Transitions

Your child isn’t trying to behave in a negative way when they have a meltdown, they are just communicating something to you in the way they know how. ABA therapy can help improve these challenges by working to understand the “why” behind behaviors while teaching skills that improve regulation, communication and flexibility. When it comes to screen time related issues specifically, these strategies may include: 

• Identifying patterns and triggers

• Teaching coping skills and replacement behaviors

• Creating transition plans personalized to your child

• Supporting families with strategies that are both realistic and sustainable

If screen time has become a major struggle in your home, Bloom Behavioral Healthcare can help you navigate through that storm in a way that makes sense for your child. No child is the same, so what works for one may not work for another. We will work with you and your child to determine a personalized plan to give your child the tools they need to feel empowered and better regulated. 

Contact Bloom Behavioral Healthcare today to set up a consultation.