[Sophia M.]

Front Porch Forum: "Am I being too strict by asking for no phones at bedtime when my grandkids sleep over?" (10/11/2025)​

Image source: Unsplash

Pull up a seat, GrayViners. “Tech-Free Nights, Please” misses the kind of sleepovers filled with flashlight stories and whispered laughter—not glowing screens. When your grandkids visit but stay lost in their phones, how do you reconnect without sounding out of touch?

Hi GrayVine,
When I was young, sleepovers meant flashlights, ghost stories, and giggling under blankets long after the lights were out. When my grandkids stay over now, they climb into bed with screens in hand, scrolling endlessly until their eyelids droop.

I asked once if we could try a no phones after nine rule, and the looks I got were dramatic. Grandma, we’re not babies, one said. I didn’t push. But the next morning, I found myself eating breakfast alone while they stayed curled up with TikTok.

I’m not trying to be the fun police. I just miss the feeling of connection. I want them to be present, to notice the little joys, like the sound of bacon sizzling or the pink light that hits the kitchen window in the morning.

Would it really be so harsh to say, no screens after a certain hour? Or am I just being unrealistic about what sleepovers look like in this generation?

Still hoping for pillow talk,
Tech-Free Nights, Please

What do you think, GrayViners? Have you ever tried setting “tech-free” boundaries with grandkids—or found ways to bring back real connection in a digital world? Share your stories and gentle advice below. And if you’ve got a family dilemma of your own, start a conversation here.