A phone can be a window to the world.
For a child, however, it can also become the place where hours quietly disappear.
New research from Stellenbosch University reports that South African children spend an average of 3 hours and 17 minutes a day on their phones — more time than they spend sleeping. Stellenbosch University research
The finding arrives as parents and educators face a difficult reality. Screens are already part of childhood. The challenge is no longer deciding whether technology belongs in children’s lives.
It is deciding how much of childhood should be given to it.
The focus is shifting towards intentional boundaries that protect sleep, connection and resilience.
It’s not about banning technology
The message is not that technology itself is the problem.
Instead, the concern is what children may be giving up when screen time takes over.
Every hour spent scrolling is an hour that could otherwise be spent building friendships, learning, managing emotions, facing challenges or simply being present with other people.
That makes the conversation about screen time much bigger than putting a phone down.
It is about the habits children develop while they are still growing.
According to the information accompanying the research, simple and consistent boundaries around screen use can support improvements in sleep quality, mood, focus and social resilience. Families can begin noticing changes within weeks.
That turns a boundary into more than a rule.
It becomes an investment in a child’s development.
A generation growing up connected
The research highlights another important concern: just under 60% of South African adolescents have no parental limits on screen time. Stellenbosch University research
For families, that statistic raises an important question.
What happens when constant connectivity begins replacing real connection?
The press release points to relationships, stress management and childhood habits as factors that can influence health outcomes later in life. It also highlights depression, anxiety and burnout as conditions that can be shaped during formative years.
The argument is not for deprivation.
It is for balance.
Children need opportunities to build genuine friendships, experience quality sleep, develop emotional resilience and learn how to be present.
Parents are part of the example
One of the simplest places to begin may be with the adults in the room.
Children learn from what they see.
That is why parents are encouraged to model the behaviour they want their children to develop. Putting the phone away during family time can communicate something more powerful than a rule ever could.
It says: you have my attention.
Maria Carpenter, Head of Momentum Multiply, says the habits children develop today can influence their health outcomes for decades.
“When families are intentional about these choices and can track their progress together – better sleep, steadier mood, deeper friendships – those habits stick.”
She adds that real connection, quality sleep and genuine play are fundamental to complete health.
Five practical ways to manage screen time
The press release offers families several practical starting points.
1. Set clear boundaries
Create device-free times and spaces. That can mean no phones during meals, in bedrooms or during family moments. The emphasis is on consistency rather than perfection.
2. Model healthy behaviour
Children notice how adults use their phones. Putting devices away during family time can demonstrate what genuine presence looks like.
3. Replace screen time with something meaningful
Removing a device creates an empty space. Instead of leaving that space empty, fill it with activities that encourage real interaction.
Family meals, outdoor activities, board games and a phone-free morning routine are suggested options. The release specifically recommends avoiding screens during the first hour after waking.
4. Use parental controls as support
App timers can act as reminders rather than punishments. Parents are encouraged to explain their purpose and use them to support healthier habits.
5. Explain the “why”
Children are more likely to understand boundaries when they understand the reason behind them.
Talk about how constant connectivity can affect sleep, mood and real-world friendships, and explain why being present matters.
The goal is bigger than screen time
Ultimately, this conversation is not simply about reducing the number of hours a child spends looking at a screen.
It is about what fills those hours instead.
A child needs friendship. They need play. They need challenges. They need opportunities to manage emotions, interact with others and experience moments where they feel genuinely seen.
These experiences form part of what the release describes as complete health — physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing.
Families can also track changes together, including sleep quality, mood, screen-free time and time spent in real connection.
Seeing that progress can help reinforce healthier habits.
And perhaps that is the most important shift of all.
The goal isn’t simply to take something away from children.
It is to make more room for the things they need.
Real connection. Quality sleep. Genuine play. Strong relationships.
Because childhood only happens once — and every hour matters.
For more information about building healthier habits and Momentum Multiply, visit Momentum Multiply.
