Screen Time Warning Signs
This interactive assessment requires JavaScript to function. The quiz evaluates these key warning signs:
- Screen time exceeding 4-6 hours daily
- Major conflict when asked to stop using screens
- Lost interest in activities they used to enjoy
- Sleep disruption from late-night screen use
- Mood swings linked to screen access
- Breaking or defying screen time rules
- Declining school performance
If you're seeing multiple signs, visit the Screen Time Help page or book a session to discuss your situation.
Question 1 of 8
On a typical day, how much screen time does your child have (excluding school)?
Question 2 of 8
What typically happens when you say it's time to put screens away?
Question 3 of 8
When your child isn't using screens, how much do they think or talk about them?
Question 4 of 8
How well does your child follow your screen time rules?
Question 5 of 8
How does your child behave when screens aren't available?
Question 6 of 8
Has screen time replaced activities your child used to enjoy?
Question 7 of 8
Is screen time affecting your child's sleep, schoolwork, or family relationships?
Question 8 of 8
Overall, how worried are you about your child's screen use?
Based on These Questions, Things Look Manageable
Your responses don't show the typical warning signs of problematic screen use. That's reassuring — but it doesn't mean your concerns aren't valid.
You're here because something prompted you to search. Maybe it's a gut feeling. Maybe you want to prevent problems before they start. Maybe screen time is fine now but you're watching it creep up. Trust that instinct — it's usually right.
Screen habits can shift quickly, especially during school holidays, after discovering a new app, or as children reach secondary age. What's manageable today can become a problem within months.
"This quiz captures common warning signs, but every family is different. If something still feels off to you — even if it didn't show up in these specific questions — that matters. Prevention is always easier than intervention. And you know your child better than any quiz."
Your Position on the Spectrum
0
Manageable
Warning
Serious
24
Your score: 0 out of 24
You're Not Overreacting: These Are Real Warning Signs
Your responses show patterns that many families experience — the daily battles, the mood changes, the creeping sense that something's shifted. This isn't full-blown dependence, but it's also not nothing.
The good news: this is exactly the stage where intervention works best. Before habits become dependencies. Before conflict becomes the norm. Before you lose any more connection.
"Most families I work with are in this zone — worried enough to search for answers, unsure if it's 'bad enough' to get help. It is. This is the window where small changes make the biggest difference. Whether it's gaming, social media, or YouTube — the patterns are similar, and I've dealt with all of them personally."
"If your child has ADHD, autism, or other additional needs, some of these patterns may overlap with neurodivergent traits — and that's something we'd work through together. The approach for SEN children is different, and I've worked with many."
Your Position on the Spectrum
0
Manageable
Warning
Serious
24
Your score: 0 out of 24
Serious Concern
Your Concerns Are Valid: This Needs Attention
Your responses indicate screen time has become a significant issue in your family. The patterns you're describing — the conflict, the withdrawal, the impact on other areas of life — are signs that screen use has moved beyond healthy engagement.
This isn't about blame. Apps and platforms are designed by thousands of engineers to be irresistible. Your child isn't weak — they're facing technology built specifically to keep them scrolling. But they need help finding their way back.
"I understand exactly what you're dealing with because I've been there myself — I went through problematic gaming AND got hooked on social media. I didn't realise how far I'd gone until I checked the criteria. I know why your child can't seem to stop, and I know what actually works to change it."
"If you've tried parental controls, time limits, taking devices away, or even therapy before and nothing worked — that's not because you failed. Most approaches treat the symptom without addressing why your child is escaping into screens. That's what we'll focus on."
"Whether your child is glued to games, social media, YouTube, or all of the above — the pattern is the same. And if they have ADHD or autism, I've worked with many neurodivergent families and we'd factor that in from day one."
Your Position on the Spectrum
0
Manageable
Warning
Serious
24
Your score: 0 out of 24
Featured in The Washington Post
Recovered from Screen Addiction
About This Assessment
This 2-minute assessment evaluates 8 key indicators of problematic screen use in children: daily duration, stopping difficulty, preoccupation, rule compliance, mood without screens, interest displacement, life impact, and your gut feeling as a parent. Created by Daniel Towle, who recovered from gaming and social media addiction himself.
Assessment by
Daniel Towle
• Screen Time Specialist • 12 years in schools • Featured in The Washington Post
Why Take This Assessment?
Most parents searching for a screen time quiz already sense something is wrong. The daily battles. The mood swings. The feeling you've lost them to a screen.
This assessment won't give you a clinical diagnosis — only a professional can do that. But it will help you understand where your child falls on the spectrum from healthy engagement to serious concern. The 8 questions are based on patterns I've observed working with families — and from my own experience recovering from gaming and social media addiction.
Your results are immediate and private. Read the full screen time help guide for more information.
Common Questions
How do I know if my child's screen time is a problem?
Warning signs include difficulty stopping, lost interest in other activities, sleep disruption, mood changes when screens aren't available, breaking rules around screens, and declining school performance. This assessment evaluates 8 key indicators.
What's the difference between healthy screen use and problematic screen time?
Healthy screen use complements life. Problematic use replaces it — affecting sleep, relationships, school, and mood. The key question: can they stop when needed without major conflict?
Is this assessment clinically validated?
This assessment is based on personal experience recovering from screen addiction and patterns observed working with families — not clinical research. For formal diagnosis, consult a mental health professional.
What happens after I complete the assessment?
You'll receive one of three results: Manageable Range, Warning Signs Present, or Serious Concern. Each includes guidance and the option to book a session for personalised help.
How accurate is a 2-minute quiz?
No quiz replaces professional assessment. But these 8 questions identify patterns I've seen repeatedly working with families. Multiple warning signs are worth taking seriously.
Last updated: January 2026