My Hot Take On Screen Time

My hot take on screens is that they are not evil in themselves, like most things. The way you use them matters. 

Some children can handle television being on all day as they play and go about their business. This is not Aryi. He can not do this. He is the kid that zombies out as soon as Ms. Rachel or Blippi say “HI”. He can not multi-task in that way. He will just sit on the couch and stare open mouthed. This is why we have a screen time rule. We generally allow 1 hour of screen time per day. This does not include video calls (that is considered socializing as far as we are concerned). This also does not include educational videos I pull up when we are doing some kind of educational play such as alphabet or counting videos. Every child is different, and if Aryi could play while the tv was on, he might have been allowed more, but he just can’t. 

We have found that this 1 hour of screens is the perfect balance for us. It allows us to get things done or relax if we really need it. We have also found if we exceed this 1 hour we start having problems. Aryi becomes whiny and challenges us more. He throws and kicks more. He becomes difficult. That is another reason why even though I don’t think screens are inherently bad we have limited it to the 1 hour. This is just what works for us, not a prescription for anyone else. 

I do not think screens are in and of themselves evil. Some parents (most parents nowadays) think screens are the devil and give their child no screen time at all. I believe they are a tool we can and should be using. You can learn anything these days from a youtube video. Videos can be used when teaching. Kids will enjoy it more and maybe even remember better. Aryi learned half of his first words from Ms. Rachel (and 1 hour max a day unless sick has always been our rule). 

Screens are also useful when you just need to get something done or, when you just need a break. I use them in this way. When Aryi wont play on his own and I need to do something like get dinner going, I definitely reach for the remote. When we are all sick and just need to chill on the couch, I reach for the remote. When I am exhausted after waking up at 3am for work and just need 30 minutes to sit and decompress, I definitely reach for the remote. I think there is nothing wrong with any of this.  

The last thing I want to say on the subject is that screens are going nowhere. Of course you don’t want a child that has only ever pressed buttons on a screen with no finger strength that will have a hard time learning to write. You also don’t want to raise someone ignorant to technology in a technology driven world. Screens are going nowhere, and like everything, balance is the answer. But also, balance looks different for everyone.