If your adolescent has been glued to their mobile device all summer — whether at home, the beach, or even during camping trips — transitioning back to school entails long periods away from screens.
While you might appreciate the break after months of potentially unlimited screen time, your children could encounter withdrawal symptoms.
Recent studies have shown that withdrawal signs can vary from anxiety and irritability to trouble concentrating — such as automatically reaching for a device and unlocking it without conscious thought.
These effects can be more pronounced on developing teenage brains.
According to Dr. Shimi Kang, a psychiatrist and clinical associate professor at the University of British Columbia, parents should anticipate some level of withdrawal as teenagers move between structured and unstructured screen time patterns.
“In my summer camp program for children, we observe withdrawal effects every Monday,” she noted.
Disrupted Routines
Interruptions in routines, like weekends or summer vacations, provide more opportunities for uninterrupted screen use, Kang explained, which can have cascading effects.
She emphasized that social media, in particular, can disrupt healthy habits.
“We start to notice changes in all routine aspects — including regular sleep patterns and meal times,” Kang added. “Everything can go out the window.”
That’s why Kang advises parents to reintroduce healthy screen time practices prior to their children going back to school. This way, they can adjust to the transition and manage the excitement and stress of a new academic year.
“You should aim to be both firm and adaptable as a parent,” she suggested, “progressing together with curiosity and connection.”
Gradual Adjustment
Tracy Vaillancourt, the Canada Research Chair in youth mental health and violence prevention, suggests starting by imposing restrictions on apps like TikTok and Instagram.
The education professor at the University of Ottawa proposes establishing precise limits on how often teenagers engage with social media, such as allocating 30 minutes daily.
“In behavioral modification programs, parents often claim they are ineffective,” Vaillancourt
