Q Ways to manage your kids’ screentime at home

Start by laying the ground rules. Talk to them about how long they can stay online for and make sure they learn from your example – try not to spend too much time on your phone. Agree on rules that the whole family abides by, and if possible, create device-free areas or times in the home, like when everyone is at the dinner table.

Setting parental controls on the devices your children use or on your broadband connection is also advisable, especially if your kids tend not to stick to the rules as much as you’d like. If Sky is your network provider, you can avail of the company’s Broadband Buddy to set regular time limits and bedtimes, pause a device so it can’t access the internet and even create different filters so they don’t see anything they shouldn’t. If you have a mesh Wifi system installed, it may have built-in parental controls. Netgear’s Orbi devices do and they offer a whole plethora of adjustable control. As for games consoles, the major brands like the Nintendo Switch, Sony Playstation and Microsoft’s Xbox all have parental control. These set time limits on playing as well as restricting unsuitable content and blocking purchases.