**You can revise the consequence and still maintain a firm boundary.** Your son needs the iPad for school, and acknowledging that you overlooked this is a reasonable correction. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to set reasonable consequences and, when they make a mistake, acknowledge it and explain what will happen next. [AAP guidance](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/communication-discipline/Pages/Disciplining-Your-Child.aspx)

When you are both calm, you could say:

> “I’ve thought about what I said. Taking away the iPad completely would interfere with school. That was my mistake, and I’m sorry. You’ll have it for schoolwork. Because you continued watching after I told you to stop, recreational use is suspended until [day and time].”

Choose a duration you consider reasonable now. You can shorten the week if you think it was excessive; you do not have to preserve a poor decision to prove that you follow through. Explain the revised consequence once, then apply it predictably.

Make school access practical:

- Ask the teacher which apps and websites he needs, and whether the school can help restrict recreational access.
- Use parental controls to limit entertainment while preserving school tools. Coordinate changes if the device is managed by the school.
- At home, keep the iPad with you outside agreed schoolwork periods.

Parental controls and clear family media rules are also part of the AAP’s [media-plan guidance](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/how-to-make-a-family-media-use-plan.aspx).

If he becomes upset again, you can offer comfort while holding the limit: “I know you’re upset. I’m here to help you calm down. Recreational use resumes on Saturday.” Acknowledging his feelings does not require changing the consequence. His distress may include both frustration and real worry about school; you needn’t settle his motives to enforce the rule.

For future evenings, set the stopping time and consequence beforehand. For example: “Videos finish at seven. If you keep watching, tomorrow’s video time is cancelled.” Then help him practise stopping and acknowledge it when he does. Keep explanations focused on the rules you enforce, and leave judgments about his mother out of the conversation.