This Parent’s ‘No iPad Challenge' Earns an A+ in Accountability Practice

One mom is building better habits not only for her daughter, but also for herself.

Fact checked by Sarah ScottFact checked by Sarah Scott

Many (if not most) modern-day parents struggle to find the right approach to handling screen time in their homes. Some place firm limits around usage while others are more fluid. But one mom decided on another tactic for her daughter (and herself), and she’s documenting the journey as an accountability exercise.

When Stephany Faublas began noticing her daughter, Cadence, was spending more time on her iPad than she liked, Faublas decided to enact a one-month “no iPad challenge" in their home. Faublas documents the challenge on her TikTok account stehfunee_, where she shares glimpses of what she and Cadence do in place of iPad time.

Most notably, Cadence practices writing letters (and provides adorable commentary while doing so) to prepare for the upcoming school year.

Faublas is certainly not the first parent to limit or reevaluate her child’s iPad habits, but what’s refreshing about this is her willingness to participate in the no iPad challenge as a chance to hold herself accountable as well.

“Besides recording her, I am screen time free as well,” Faublas tells Good Morning America.

The caption under the Day 1 video reads "Day 1 of resetting that frontal lobe (pray for us both)".

As parents who are often concerned about putting healthy boundaries on our kids, it can often be difficult for us to not only set boundaries for ourselves, but to also display accountability for our kids.

After all, how can we expect our kids to understand the importance of doing something if we aren't practicing it ourselves?

Mirroring Accountability

Taking a good, hard look at our own screen use as parents is not easy. But, according to Scott Roth, PsyD, a licensed school psychologist and the founder and clinical director at Applied Psychological Services of New Jersey, it’s an important step to making sure accountability sticks.

“A great intervention for parents is developing awareness,” says Dr. Roth. “Your child actually might become your teacher and tell you ‘why do I have to get off of my screen when you are always staring at yours’?”

It's important to note not all devices and content have the same effect. Dr. Roth explains the difference between a child being isolated on a small device like an iPad as opposed to the communal activity of watching TV with friends or enjoying a family movie night.

"TV shows and movies require sustained attention for at least 20 minutes and as much as two hours," he adds. "This differs greatly from an iPad where a child can (and is actually encouraged by the algorithm) to continue seeking. There is a 'slot machine' dopamine effect that an iPad has. Eventually, the child will get what they want. The dopamine will fire, and they will come back for more.”

As a mom of two who are the same age as Cadence, I appreciate this mom’s approach so much—not just because she’s sharing an inside look at how she’s helping her daughter establish new habits, but also because she’s being refreshingly honest and embracing balance while doing so.

In one video, Faublas confesses that Cadence still uses the iPad for about 15-20 minutes a day, when she plays a game that helps her learn to read.

Ultimately, keeping kids away from screens entirely is probably not a realistic goal for many families, nor is it a necessary one. Kids will inevitably go through periods of screen time usage throughout their lives. As long as you're helping to instill a healthy balance and filling the screen time void with good habits early, they’ll be fine.

Finding that balance isn’t always simple, but Dr. Roth offers up some practical suggestions.

Filling the Screen Time Void

Dr. Roth says finding the answer to successfully filling the void left by screens is done in three parts.

1. Stock up on fun supplies. “Firstly, make sure that you have a wide variety of other activities that a child enjoys at your home. [For example], toys, games, puzzles, sports, etc."

2. Set concrete limits around screen time. "This may look like eliminating weekday screen time and only [having] screen time on weekends. Give your child warnings so the end of their time is predictable rather than sudden."

3. Have conversations with your children. "Start [conversations with them] very young on why it is important to limit screen time.”
   

If you’re looking to make changes to screen use in your own home (whether for yourself, your kids, or both), Dr. Roth agrees that a challenge like the one Faublas is undertaking may be a smart way to approach it.

“I am a big proponent of media fasts and resets,” says Dr. Roth. “Sometimes going cold turkey is optimal, especially with older kids who can really show addictive screen time behaviors. With others, I am still a proponent of teaching moderation and self-control as a life skill that they can apply to many different facets of their world.”

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