About Screen Time

You do not need my permission or anyone else’s but if this is helpful to you, please feel free to let your children enjoy screen time. I continue to hear so much guilt from so many parents (mostly moms) regarding kids having too much screen time right now and I know I’m not the first to say this in the past few months, but seriously let that guilt go. These are not regular times. We have been homeschooling, working from home, and confined together for months. It will continue for many more months. Make peace with the screens for your own sake, and also for your kids. Plus- its not all bad- and I’ll explain why.

I believe in lots of physical activity, preferably outdoors, for kids (and adults) of all ages. I am an advocate for family game nights, hikes in the woods, and creative pursuits. These are all important. And perhaps kids are getting a bit “too much” screen time right now by the old definition, but I think it is time to reconsider the old guidelines, and not just because of pandemic parenting. Times have changed and so can our view of screens.

The previous guidelines regarding “screen time limits” were mainly referring to studies based on television viewing, a type of passive entertainment-focused screen time. Screens are no longer exclusively used for passive activities. And even with those studies, educational television was found to have different impacts than cartoons. Nowadays there are numerous options for academic learning, extracurriculars, and social connection available through a screen that are redefining our understanding of “screen time.” Everything from Zoom activity classes to virtual camps with structured online and offline activities ran by experienced educators to story times with the authors of wonderful children’s books and tours of some of the most famous sites from around the world. All of these are enriching to our children.. The research has not caught up with the reality of HOW screens are being used now to connect in real time for learning and playing creatively and collaboratively.

Anticipating the surge in screen use due to the pandemic and the many demands on families, experts released new guidelines at the beginning of the Covid lockdown emphasizing the quality of the screen time rather than the quantity. Find it here: https://services.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2020/aap-finding-ways-to-keep-children-occupied-during-these-challenging-times/ These recommendations encourage parents to consider the 3 Cs: child, context and content. These are much more helpful to families looking to be considerate around screen use at this time, and moving forward, with new screen-based opportunities.

Create a screen time strategy that works for your family by considering the types of screen time and the other activities you want your children to engage with each day. Consider your own schedule and what part of it is flexible and what is not. When are you able to connect with your kids? Find the times that work for you to engage your kids in non-screen based activities and prioritize those moments.

The three types of screen time: 1-playful engagement 2- passive entertainment, 3- learning and connection. In our family we are setting reasonable limits for playful engagement and passive entertainment activities- things like video games (even learning apps) and watching TV. However, we do not count online learning nor social connection towards our screen time count, which includes things like chatting with friends or grandparents on Zoom, class meetings, or extracurriculars. When typical aspects of social connection and learning are so disrupted and have shifted from in person to online, it isn’t helpful to include the number of minutes or hours spent on these activities and count it towards leisure time.

Additionally, rather than focusing on an arbitrary time limit to enforce playful or passive screen time limits, I believe in the power of intentional routines to help reduce tension and conflict in families. So aside from dividing screen time into different types, I encourage families to consider the other activities they hope their children will engage with throughout the day and organize time to do those things. Some important parts of life include social connection, physical activity, time in nature, arts and crafts, hygiene, and participating in household responsibilities. How this works for each family is different depending on work schedules and other commitments. By focusing on other activities, screen time is limited by crowding it out. These do not have to be elaborate activities or 100% screen free. A walk around the block. Kicking a ball at the park. Colouring. Tidying up toys and making the bed. Talking with a friend on Zoom or participating in an online yoga class. All of these are active and engaging, reducing the time spent zoning out watching Netflix (which is also FINE as long as other needs are being met!)

Many of the typically in-person summer camps in my area are offering virtual alternatives that include programming that will break up the day for you! ( Level Up Coding Camp and Onside Sport Camp are two local to me examples.) Body breaks, real time connection to peers, and skill building all via the screen in a participatory way are the hallmarks of the Virtual Camps. For families that need to work from home with kids for most of the summer, these are options to explore that use screens but are really so much more. And finally, when we are all overloaded with so many responsibilities is there anything more relaxing family activities than curling up on the couch together with popcorn and a movie?

So let go of the screen time guilt! Go easy on yourself and your kids- communicate with them, be intentional, make a plan to include other activities, and then find ways to make screens work for you! The kids will be alright.

Here are some links for more thoughts on this issue:

https://www.npr.org/2020/04/27/846767505/screen-time-overload-heres-how-to-find-balance

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ellenwartella/2020/05/21/as-kids-screen-time-surges-during-the-pandemic-heres-what-research-suggests/#68a8e5f25112

https://sparkandstitchinstitute.com/screen-time-rules-pandemic/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li_P9D_AbVc