Toys vs. Tech: How to Help Your Kids Unplug and Thrive This Summer

The Summer Screen Time Surge Is Real — And It's Getting Worse

Just as Disney and Pixar's highly anticipated Toy Story 5 dramatizes the battle between beloved playthings and irresistible digital devices, millions of real-world families are facing the same struggle every single summer. When school bells stop ringing and structured routines disappear, children reach for their tablets and smartphones — and the numbers tell a striking story.

According to a comprehensive report by Aura, an online safety company that analyzed data from nearly 30,000 devices, children between the ages of 7 and 12 spend roughly 30% more time on screens during summer compared to the school year. That translates to approximately four additional hours of screen time per week.

The report also revealed that 75% of children aged 7 to 11 would rather watch videos than play with physical toys — a statistic that forms the very foundation of Toy Story 5's storyline, where 8-year-old Bonnie abandons her cherished toys after receiving a shiny new tablet called a "Lilypad."

Why Summer Makes Kids More Vulnerable to Screen Overuse

Pediatrician and researcher Dr. Jason Nagata of the University of California, San Francisco, explains that summer represents a uniquely high-risk window for excessive screen use. Without the natural structure and accountability of school days, children and teenagers naturally default to their devices when boredom sets in.

"Time that is generally spent on screens is often displacing sleep, physical activity, or outdoor time," says Dr. Nagata — all of which are critical pillars of a child's mental and physical health.

The Aura data adds important detail to this picture:

• Teens experience a 15% increase in screen time during summer compared to the school year
• Nearly 70% of children are already on their devices by mid-afternoon
• 1 in 10 children remain active on devices as late as midnight
• Nighttime messaging rates more than double across all age groups compared to fall

Younger children tend to gravitate toward YouTube videos and gaming platforms like Roblox, while teenagers migrate toward social media apps. The Toy Story 5 film captures this dynamic authentically — depicting young Bonnie staying up late scrolling her tablet and reaching for it the moment she wakes up.

The Health Consequences Are Hard to Ignore

As summer progresses, the health toll becomes measurable. Aura's Digital Wellbeing Index — which correlates children's digital habits with health markers including sleep quality, emotional regulation, mood, and social isolation — found that one in three children score poorly on the index as summer wears on.

The good news? Kids aren't oblivious to the problem. More than half of children and teens surveyed acknowledged that excessive screen time isn't healthy. When asked to rank their preferred summer activities, 36% chose spending time with friends, 24% chose going outside, and only 20% chose using a tablet.

"Many children and teens themselves report that they actually don't want to be glued to their phones over the summer," says Dr. Nagata. "It's just that, oftentimes, they're a little bit bored."

And apps are specifically engineered to exploit that boredom — using constant notifications and algorithmic hooks to keep users engaged far longer than intended.

4 Practical Ways Parents Can Keep Tech in Check This Summer

1. Create Physical Barriers to Screen Time

Rather than simply imposing time limits — which can feel punitive and ineffective without appealing alternatives — Dr. Nagata encourages parents to plan activities that make device use physically impossible.

Swimming is one of his top recommendations. "I take my daughter swimming every weekend over the summer, and the pool has become our special father-daughter place," he says. "And it's also screen-free. You cannot physically bring phones or devices into the pool."

The combination of physical activity, outdoor exposure, and quality bonding time makes swimming — and similar water-based activities — an ideal summer staple for families.

2. Enroll Kids in Summer Camp

Summer camps offer a structured, immersive environment that naturally limits screen access. A 2023 survey by the American Camp Association found that 90% of summer camps ban cell phones and tablets entirely.

Dr. Nagata notes that camps emphasizing physical activity, outdoor exploration, and meaningful peer relationships deliver the greatest developmental benefits. But not every child thrives in a sports-heavy environment — and that's perfectly fine.

Niki Cordell, who runs Junior Chefs Kitchen, a culinary summer camp in Chicago, offers an inspiring alternative. Children cook two recipes daily, spend time at local parks, and visit restaurants around the city once a week. "Not all kids are super sporty, so this gives them the ability to build confidence and life skills in a different setting," Cordell explains. Many campers return home eager to recreate what they've learned in their own kitchens.

Art, music, and STEM camps are equally valuable options for children who don't gravitate toward athletics.

3. Build Structure Around Community Resources

For families working with tighter budgets, community resources can provide meaningful structure without a steep price tag. Regular trips to the public library, afternoon outings to local parks, and programs through organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America all help anchor summer days with purpose and connection.

These low-cost touchpoints give children something to look forward to and reduce the idle downtime that so often leads to excessive screen use.

4. Involve Your Kids in the Planning Process

Merve Lapus, Vice President of Education, Outreach and Engagement at Common Sense Media, emphasizes the importance of making children active participants in managing their own screen habits.

"It's really important to just have that discussion with the kids and recognize that it's very easy to get lost in screens, but we want to be in agreement that this is something we're going to try and do together," says Lapus.

When children help plan their own screen-free or screen-limited days, they develop a sense of ownership and autonomy over their choices — making them far more likely to follow through. Parents who join in the activities, rather than simply issuing mandates from the sidelines, reinforce that digital boundaries are a family value, not a punishment.

The Bottom Line

The themes at the heart of Toy Story 5 — connection, presence, and the things we risk losing when we disappear into our screens — are more relevant than ever. The research is clear: summers without structure invite screen overuse, and the health consequences are real. But with thoughtful planning, open communication, and a few well-chosen alternatives, parents can help their children spend this summer building memories rather than scrolling through them.