A screen time plan for toddlers and preschoolers that you can feel good about
As a pediatric occupational therapist and a mom of two, here’s what I believe - screen time is OKAY for your child’s development, if offered in an age-appropriate and predictable way.
However, the problem lies in how much, what type, and how often the screen is offered AND how you respond when your child wants more.
We now have a plethora of research that shows that increased levels of screen time and certain types of media usage is associated with increased mental and physical health concerns in young children. Increased levels of screen time have also been linked to attention and behavioral difficulties and decreased quality of sleep.
Here’s the truth - screens are inherently exciting to your child’s brain, and the more they are offered, the more they want them. It is often the transition AWAY from screen time that is difficult - leading to tantrums, crying, protesting, and more…. that you just wish would stop!
It’s also important to keep in mind that not only does the screen time itself negatively affect a child’s brain development, but the time that screen time takes AWAY from doing other things throughout the day (ie. independent play, connecting with caregivers, family members, or peers, using boredom to foster creativity, etc) is also detrimental to development.
SO, is it possible to offer some screen-time while staying mindful of age-appropriate guidelines for optimal child development?
In my opinion - yes! Enter the “screen-damp” identity. This is for you if you want to allow SOME screen time, but want to do so in a structured, consistent, and age-appropriate way so that it doesn’t get out of hand.
Here are my top tips for how to live a “screen-damp” lifestyle:
Under the age of two, offer no regular screen time, aside from FaceTiming with family or friends.
For ages two and up, decide which routines do and don’t include screens. I recommend NOT including screens during meals, short outings and errands, shorter car rides, and stroller walks. Screens may be extremely helpful for you during certain routines like longer car rides, plane trips, and specific (more difficult) parts of your day such as while you’re cooking dinner each night.
Be as consistent as possible with WHEN in the day screen time is offered. Ideally, it is not the first thing in the morning or the last hour or two before bed. Being consistent with when your child knows to expect screens helps build predictability into their day and limits the constant screen time requests and tantrums, because they know when to expect it.
Choose a tv over a handheld device like a tablet or smartphone. A television, where they are ideally sitting a few feet (or more) away from the screen and are not able to quickly tap between different videos, is ideal. When a child is able to hold a handheld device like a tablet or a parent’s phone, their attention to the initial video is typically extremely short. They tap through video after video and possibly even jump from app to app. This leads to the development of short attention spans.
Choose slower-paced shows, rather than fast-paced moving images. Faster-moving images have been shown to negatively affect a child’s attention to other, seemingly ordinary parts of life. The brain learns to find these things “boring” after watching something super fast-paced on a screen. Slower-moving images are better - think PBS kids and Sesame Street over fast-paced and loud apps.
Tell your child what will happen next in their routine after the screen time is over. For example, “After we watch this show, it’s time to play outside!”
Give a set time or show limit prior to turning on the show. For example, “We will watch one episode of Trash Truck today.” You can also use a visual timer to show your child how much time they have to watch today. When the timer goes off, quickly and neutrally turn off the screen and transition to the next step in your routine.
Following the above guidelines is a great way to implement screen time into your child’s routine in an age-appropriate and developmentally-friendly way.
If you currently follow different screen time rules than these, remember that your child may be upset that you are setting new screen time limits. This is okay! Your child is allowed to be upset that the screen time boundaries have changed. That doesn’t mean you go back on your word or extend the amount of time you said they would have. The more CONSISTENT and PREDICTABLE you are with what you say and do, the more trust you build and the fewer screen-related protests there will be over time.
If you want to learn more about how to live a screen-damp lifestyle, what specific shows I do and do not recommend, and how to manage screen time tantrums, check out my Screen Time Workshop! This 35-minute live replay will dive into more detail about implementing screen time into your toddler’s daily routine in a predictable, age-appropriate, and developmentally-friendly way.
Questions about screen time? Favorite show recommendations? Leave a comment below!