Families urged to switch off and reconnect this Christmas as Children's Commissioner calls for phone-free family time

AS families prepare for Christmas, play expert and occupational therapist Tara-Lea McElduff, founder of Pretzel Play, is urging parents to lead by example and reclaim screen-free family time - following new warnings from the Children’s Commissioner for England and updated Ofcom data revealing the scale of digital disruption in family life.

Speaking today, Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said children are “crying out” for engagement from adults during the festive period, calling on families to introduce phone-free time and warning that many children feel ignored as parents scroll during meals.

Her comments follow new research showing that nearly half of parents plan to allow phones at the Christmas dinner table, while almost four in 10 adults say smartphones have disrupted their Christmas in some way.

At the same time, the latest Ofcom figures show UK adults now spend an average of 4.5 hours online every day - 31 minutes more than during the height of the pandemic in 2021 - with children aged eight to 14 spending nearly three hours online daily, much of it late into the night.

From Sixmilecross, Tara-Lea McElduff says the message from children is becoming impossible to ignore.

“Our children are crying out for connection in the only language they have. They’re calling the way they feel after endless scrolling ‘brain rot’. They’re overstimulated, exhausted and often awake online long after they should be sleeping. When one in six children is struggling with mental health, we have to listen - and act.”

She says Christmas offers a powerful reset moment.

“Children need presence. They need us to put the phones down and show them that they matter more than a screen.”

Dame Rachel de Souza has stressed that parents must model the behaviour they expect from children, admitting she has struggled herself in the past but emphasising that clear, shared boundaries are key.

“We have to lead as adults,” she said. “We can’t talk about banning phones or reducing screen time for children if we’re not doing it ourselves.”

Tara-Lea agrees, noting that excessive screen exposure affects children’s nervous systems, sleep, attention and emotional regulation.

“Fifty years ago, childhood was built on outdoor, imaginative, hands-on play - climbing trees, riding bikes, creating games, learning resilience naturally. Today, many children spend less than an hour outdoors and far more time on devices. The way children spend their time has changed — and so have their nervous systems.”

She adds that the issue isn’t technology itself, but disconnection.

“Screens aren’t the enemy - disconnection is. Excessive digital stimulation overwhelms the developing nervous system, making it harder for children to self-regulate, concentrate and feel emotionally safe. What children crave most is time spent together, play and time.”

The Children’s Commissioner’s newly released online safety guide encourages parents to “talk early and often” with children about screen time, online experiences and boundaries - a message echoed by psychologists and health professionals.

Tara-Lea believes small, consistent changes can have a powerful impact.

“This Christmas, I’m encouraging families to come back to simple rituals - board games, creative play, time outdoors, walks, shared meals without phones. These moments ground us, bond us and help children feel safe, seen and regulated.”

She concludes: “Before panic-buying more stuff, another gadget or tablet, consider giving the gift of time, imagination and real connection. The statistics are telling us something important. It’s time for adults to guide the shift.”

For more information, visit www.pretzelplay.co.uk