People often assume that because I’m a crunchy parent, my kids have never seen a TV show or held a smartphone before. But, this isn’t the case at all. I believe in holding off on screen time as long as it works for you–but I also understand that there are situations when you might need a bit of quiet time, or perhaps your kids need a bit of down time. Screen time can be a great solution in moderation.
Our House Screen Time Routine
At the moment, my kids often watch one episode of Daniel Tiger on an afternoon while I get the dishwasher running, switch the laundry and tidy up before the end of the workday. We own a couple of seasons so there are no advertisements.
I’m not a fan of loud or overstimulating shows–looking at you, CocoMelon and Paw Patrol–but I’m personally fine with PBS Kids. I’ve watched a few episodes with them and Daniel Tiger is a nice show. It teaches about emotional regulation and communication. I use DT jingles when we’re in a challenging moment (like the use-your-words song or the calm down song).
In fact, “use the bathroom before we go, because there’s no potty on our trolley” is probably the most commonly spoken phrase in our house right now 😛
Other than that, we don’t watch movies, YouTube or cable TV (actually, we don’t even have a TV!). The kids video chat with their Colorado grandparents weekly and my dad on WhatsApp sometimes, but that’s it.
What We’re Holding Off On with Screens
We don’t do tablets/computer/phone games… at all. I’m pretty keen on no interactive screens as long as possible. Well, I’d be okay with forever… but realistically, they’ll be adults who can buy their own smartphones someday.
Why? I guess it comes from my own upbringing. My mom allowed us to play educational computer games–that we quickly got bored of–and to spend one hour on Internet games, usually AmericanGirl.com, per month (yes, you read that right). I definitely felt like I lived in the Dark Ages at times, but my creativity and relationship with my sister hugely benefited from those limits.
When I hear my kids downstairs playing veterinarian to their dinosaurs, building apartment complexes for their toy cars or serving up play food meals to their Squishmallows, I know they don’t need that entertainment right now, either. If they’re squirrelly, we get outside; even just scootering around the driveway is a good energy outlet.
When we go out places, we bring lots of things to do. Books, non-messy art supplies (like Water Wow pads or Wiki Stix), and of course their favorite stuffies. I also think that going out, whether to a coffee shop or Grandma’s house, is a good opportunity to learn about manners and how to participate in a conversation. We try to be intentional about where we take them, and for how long. We’re always the first ones to leave a gathering, but that’s having kids!
Of course, everyone has different needs and situations, so this isn’t meant to judge people who do things differently. It’s what works for us at the moment. In the future, we may do more or less TV time. And once they’re in elementary school and beyond, there’s a whole new world of technology to navigate!
What does your family’s screen time routine look like?
xx Claire
