How do you manage screen time for kids aged 10-13?

Hi everyone,

I’m curious to hear how other parents manage screen time for kids between 10 and 13 years old. I have a 12-year-old myself.

So far, we’ve mostly let it regulate itself because he’s usually busy with other activities during the week—school, three days of extracurriculars, homework, and time with friends. As a result, screen time hasn’t really been an issue. However, weekends can get a bit out of hand sometimes.

I’ve talked to some of the other parents in his class, and their approaches range widely. Some allow unlimited screen time (phones, tablets, gaming), while others enforce strict limits—even to the point of not having a TV at home, banning gaming altogether, and restricting the use of devices like school-issued tablets to homework only.

What kind of rules do you have in your home? How do you balance flexibility with setting boundaries?