When Rashmi Pandey looks back at the early days of parenting her daughter Nandini, one habit stands out clearly: the phone had slowly become a way to get through meals, difficult moments, and long stretches of the day.

Many parents recognise this pattern. A phone, tablet, or TV can easily become the easiest distraction, especially after the pandemic changed routines at home. But as families begin to notice how screen dependence affects children’s attention, habits, and real-life engagement, some are choosing a digital detox in their own way.

Here are the experiences of three families who reduced screen time for their children through crafts, chores, outdoor play, reading, and daily involvement at home.

Moving from screens to crafts and park visits 

For Gaurav Pandey, a marketing professional, and his wife Rashmi Pandey, a homemaker from Jodhpur, the realisation came slowly at home. Like many parents after the pandemic, they began noticing how easily a phone or TV could slip into their child’s routine. 

Rashmi recalls how screen time gradually became a part of their daughter's daily routine when she was around one and a half years old. What began as occasionally letting Nandini watch television during meals soon turned into a habit, making screens an easy way to keep her occupied.

As the dependence became more noticeable over the years, Rashmi and her husband grew concerned about its impact. While they had been mindful of screen use earlier, they began taking more deliberate and consistent steps to reduce it over the past two years, particularly after Nandini turned four, focusing on healthier alternatives and more engaging offline activities.

The approach was gradual,........

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