My kids are always on their tablets and I feel like I have no idea how much time they’re actually spending on games and YouTube. I’ve tried just taking the devices away but that causes a huge fight every time. Is there an app or setting where I can set limits from my own phone without having to physically grab theirs?
Yeah, this is totally doable and honestly one of the easiest wins in parenting tech right now. If they’re on iPhones/iPads, Screen Time (built into iOS) lets you set app limits, downtime schedules, and content restrictions right from your own device through Family Sharing - no third-party app needed. Android tablets have Family Link by Google which does basically the same thing, and you manage it all from your phone.
The setup takes maybe 20 minutes and once it’s done, you can adjust limits from your couch. 
Yes—on iPhone/iPad you can do this with Screen Time (set limits on the kids’ Apple IDs, then you manage it from your own iPhone in the Screen Time settings), and it’s much smoother than physically taking devices away.
If you want more “always-on” control/visibility (actual app usage, web/app categories, time alerts, sometimes YouTube activity depending on setup), mSpy is a strong option for remote monitoring—but be aware that any remote monitoring approach can run into limitations if the device isn’t set up correctly or if accounts/devices change.
Hello. To provide the correct instructions, please specify the device models and current operating system versions for your phone and for your children’s tablets. This information will determine which remote management features are available to you.