Children and screens in the summer: 3 practical solutions for all parents! 2026

Google is expanding Android Parental Controls (Android Parental Controls) to all devices upgrading to Android 17. This feature, launched last year on Pixel devices, makes it easier for parents to manage their child's screen time and find a balance between online and offline entertainment.

Set the amount of time your child can spend on a device each day, helping them develop healthy habits. Create Downtime programs to automatically lock the device at night, ensuring a restful, uninterrupted night's sleep.

Set filters on Google Play to manage the maximum content suitability limit your child is allowed to download. Control app usage by limiting time spent on specific apps or blocking them entirely.

Android Parental Controls also offer a direct way to easily set up Google Family Link in the corresponding app on the parent's phone. Family Link offers features like School Time, Google Play purchase approvals, location notifications, and more.

Set clear rules with simple parental control tools

Children's screen time during the summer should be a useful tool, not a source of distraction. That's why it's important to set some digital boundaries of protection.

Parental control features make it easy for parents to manage their children's screen time and find the perfect balance between digital and real-world fun. With parental controls now available on all Android devices and protected by an easy-to-set PIN, you can set screen time limits, schedule Downtime to lock your child's device at night, and control app usage. Android Parental Controls offer a quick way to set up Google Family Link, which provides even more features like School Time, location notifications, and more.

On YouTube, parents can set a time limit for Shorts streaming, bedtime reminders, and break notifications. Summer is also the perfect time to check your children's content settings. For kids under 13, there's YouTube Kids: a standalone app with much stricter criteria for safe and family-friendly content. For older kids, there are Preteen and Teen Supervised Accounts on the main YouTube platform, each offering suggested content settings and age-appropriate experiences.

See more tips for managing screen time this summer, like creating a “family screen contract,” from Dr. Garth Graham, Global Head of YouTube Health.

Keep learning and exploring new topics

Who said learning has to stop when schools close? Summer is a great time for kids to delve into their favorite subjects.

Use Guided Learning in Gemini to explore with your child what sparks their summer curiosity, such as how a roller coaster works at an amusement park. It offers step-by-step support in subjects such as maths, science or history, facilitating the learning experience and helping the child develop basic problem-solving skills.

As kids, parents and educators turn to YouTube for learning, it's worth discovering educational content creators like Astronio's channel that brings space and science to kids.

Turn digital inspiration into real-world adventure

A video can become the perfect reason to play away from screens. Use YouTube Kids to learn how to build a DIY castle at home or look for a step-by-step guide to making paper airplanes. Watch the video with your child for a few minutes to learn how to build it, then put the devices aside to see which plane will fly the highest.

Do you happen to be stuck inside due to rain? Or maybe you need creative ideas for an outdoor activity? Think of Gemini as your personal summer inspiration assistant. Parents can use Gemini to organize a scavenger hunt, identify plants and insects during a family hike, or find a safe kid-friendly experiment to make playdough with materials they already have in their kitchen, turning a quick search into an afternoon of play and science.

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