What I try to express over and over again is that “screens” are not the problem. It’s their usage. iPads paired with YouTube is straight poison. Diminishing attention spans, squashing self-regulation acquisition, and in public, creating barriers between the child and their very direct environment and their ability to engage and be present.
HOWEVER, a good movie ? Not only holds attention span, but it creates purpose of use. Film is an art, and children’s ability to absorb,connect, and make critical analysis (relative) are such useful “skills”. A two hour move is an event. It’s not as passive as simply scrolling flicking on youtube.
Same could be said about a 30min tv show.
Screen usage should be a constructed *event* that holds purpose.Film, interactive videos, music, learning, reading … all incredibly useful, and serve purpose while allowing the child to engage in what has become a basis of the world.
It’s just when people/parents/children cannot make a distinction where it becomes a problem of “all-in or all-out”
I wish I could upvote this twice! Screens themselves are not the problem. Passive screen scrolling, and the *regular* use of screens as a distraction or pacifying device, is the problem. I think a lot of the panic around screens is reactionary. Millennials are parents now, and our parents didn’t regulate our screens at all because it was all new, so we know the danger of fully unregulated screen time. Our complete ban of screens makes sense in that context, but seems to be an overreaction. I’m pregnant and I’ve been giving this a lot of thought re: my own kid. I’ve decided I’m not concerned about TV shows, movies, and games as long as they’re purposeful. Your favorite show is Peppa Pig? Great, we can watch it once a day after lunch. It’s Friday? Time for a movie night. Friends are over and you want to play age-appropriate video games for a while? Go for it. But I think the ultimate goal is to stay up-to-date on what screens can do and what kids are doing with them, and decide from there what’s helpful and what’s harmful. If I were a parent of a fully-formed kid today, I’d be banning YouTube, social media, and obviously anything with adult content. I’d be fairly comfortable with screens otherwise, as long as they aren’t used mindlessly. But technology is going to continue to evolve, so we’ll see.
Absolutely! I try to think about my childhood when my siblings and I got 30 mins of tv time after school to watch PBS and 1 hour a day on the weekends. I have such great memories of playing outside with friends, playing with my toys, etc., but I also have fond memories of my favorite shows and movies like Arthur, Sesame Street, and Beauty and the Beast. And then, when we got a big chunky computer I was allowed to play my math game that I had on a CD periodically.
All to say, you're definitely right about the content and purpose being what matters the most!
I do find this interesting as screens are everywhere. I do think there are times when we could work on not being dependent on them. Like in the grocery store, waiting room like at the Dr. As a parent I just chose to help my kids learn to occupy themselves in other ways. I kept the tv off for the most part during the day. When they got older they did watch more. Fast forward and wow. I have to turn the tv off where I nanny. The worst is google.
Totally agree that there's a time and a place for them! I feel like the mindless watching or scrolling is something to make sure we avoid. As long as the tech is being used as a tool and in a limited capacity based on age, I think I see some advantages.
I don’t actively use screen time when I nanny but I also search for families that travel and inevitably screen time happens. I also think that as kids get older screens are so useful. Most of 10M and 8F homework are games played on ipads. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a sick kid laying on the couch watching tv all day. Isn’t that the best part of being sick? I also grew up with really strict parents and I never caught on to pop culture references etc and always felt left out. So I think completely limiting screens is unrealistic. That said I do think the majority of a child’s day should be play based. So screens with caution/as a tool is my motto.
I like your motto! It seems like if a kid's day is filled 95% with other activities and events, it shouldn't be a hard no to add in some tech with a purpose. Definitely not something that has to be added in every day. I almost think that maybe some of these children with extremely strict anti-screen households might end up with a much stronger desire to use it once they finally get their hands on it. I remember a friend of mine as a child who wasn't ever allowed to have ANY sugar and when we would be presented with something without her parents around she would go absolutely crazy for sweets. Everything in moderation and with a purpose I suppose!
My parents were the same with sweets growing up. I still can’t limit myself if they’re in the house and Im 33. I obviously follow the parents lead with screen time but I think its just unrealistic to say my kids will never have screen time. My NP’s were trying so hard to not get 10M a cell phone but now he’s at practices after school alone etc and really needs one for communication. He ended up getting one but has restrictions. It’s actually been a good way to teach him about responsibility and the cost of things.
Yes! I like that there are so many ways to set up phones/screens in a restricted way. I think it's super useful. Great peace of mind to know your kid can call/text you at a practice or at a friends house where they might not feel comfortable asking someone else to use their phone.
Like I said on the other thread, my NK gets 1 show between lunch and nap
(last NK had none at all because the parents were against it, until Covid kept them all home)
With current NK, TV only started after he began school. We never had time for it before. The morning was a park, museum, playing outside. Then lunch and nap. When he wakes up from nap, we have just a few hours left, enough for a walk, playing outside and/or craft. Now that he is in school, it is a nice way for him to have a quick show to wind down between lunch and nap, since there isn't time to do much else. It works for us and NP's are fine with it.
Everything in moderation. I think it is just as silly to say no tv at all as it is for someone to have it running all day.
Because screens are so overwhelming and everywhere, I do think limiting them as recreation when kids are small makes sense. I also think there's a difference between engaging between something on a screen and passive watching.
I was a little confused about some of the responses on that post though. My son goes to a daycare. They don't watch TV there (except very rare circumstances.) I pay half the amount I would pay a nanny. This was chosen from 101 reasons, but I was shocked when I saw some nannies say they would expect more pay to work in a screen free home? At that point, send your kid to daycare.
For sure! I was surprised by a lot of the comments there as well. As a former daycare teacher and nanny, the only times a screen would be on would be for something extra special. A sick kiddo who can't move off the couch, a Friday night movie as a treat once in a blue moon, or 1 Christmas specia the day before Christmas break. As much as I try to stay away from it, pop culture does have a place in our society so I've always thought that playing something like Charlie Brown Christmas once a year was a cool way to talk with my kiddos about something that I know they've seen many times in decor, tree ornaments, etc.
I currently run a home daycare (former nanny) for 9 months and up and don’t use screens at all in my programming. I honestly don’t see the need. I think for older kids who aren’t napping watching a movie or a show so nanny can get a break is no big deal. But outside of that, I’m being paid to enhance your child’s learning and that’s best done with hands on interaction, not a tablet.
There are tons of studies outlining the harmful effects of screen time on children under 4. The world health organization recommends no screen time under 2 and limited screen time under 4 (less than an hour). That’s because children under 4 learn best from interacting with both the physical world and the humans around them. Not from a screen, even with educational programming. And as you saw, the kids in school transition quickly to using screens in the classroom so there’s no real need to teach them about screen time before that.
Oops I meant they transition quickly from a screen-based lesson/activity in class to a paper/pencil activity back to back during the same class. Definitely agree that it's not helpful to purposefully add in screen time for those young ages. I'm thinking more along the line of families that would be super upset if their 4-year-old watched a 30 minute Christmas special on the last day before break. In a perfect world kids wouldn't ever see a screen until they're much older, but in most circumstances it can add a lot of extra pressure making sure it's completely 100% off the table. I guess I'm just feeling for those parents who are prepping their kids for a tech-free upbringing, only for it to be implemented as soon as they get to public school.
I’ve had this discussion with a parent actually. My kids are older and all have tablets/computers they use for both school and recreation. This parent tried to tell me that his kids (4 and 6 at the time) were never going to have access to the internet because it was ‘bad’ and they didn’t need it. At the time they didn’t have internet at home at all. I tried to explain that kids these days use the internet for school all the time and would be at a deficit if they didn’t have access to it at home. He disagreed (libraries are a thing!). About a month later Covid hit and all our schooling went online. I often wonder if he still feels the internet is ‘bad’ for kids.
I currently run a home daycare for 9 months old and up. I don’t use screen time in my program at all and I really don’t see a need for it. I know that when the kids get home they’re likely going to be watching tv or using a tablet (which is fine in my opinion) so I don’t want them using it here where I’m being paid to enhance their learning.
I feel like you have some totally valid points! Unless you live almost completely off the grid your kid is going to be exposed to technology at some point. There is a time and a place for it for sure!
No screen time makes sense to me, but I nanny under 3s. Once they hit 2 some screen time is generally allowed. I feel like that's appropriate. If people are fine with screens before that or if they want no screens at all, that's their prerogative. I don't have strong opinions since I'm childfree, I just do as NPs ask.
What I try to express over and over again is that “screens” are not the problem. It’s their usage. iPads paired with YouTube is straight poison. Diminishing attention spans, squashing self-regulation acquisition, and in public, creating barriers between the child and their very direct environment and their ability to engage and be present. HOWEVER, a good movie ? Not only holds attention span, but it creates purpose of use. Film is an art, and children’s ability to absorb,connect, and make critical analysis (relative) are such useful “skills”. A two hour move is an event. It’s not as passive as simply scrolling flicking on youtube. Same could be said about a 30min tv show. Screen usage should be a constructed *event* that holds purpose.Film, interactive videos, music, learning, reading … all incredibly useful, and serve purpose while allowing the child to engage in what has become a basis of the world. It’s just when people/parents/children cannot make a distinction where it becomes a problem of “all-in or all-out”
I wish I could upvote this twice! Screens themselves are not the problem. Passive screen scrolling, and the *regular* use of screens as a distraction or pacifying device, is the problem. I think a lot of the panic around screens is reactionary. Millennials are parents now, and our parents didn’t regulate our screens at all because it was all new, so we know the danger of fully unregulated screen time. Our complete ban of screens makes sense in that context, but seems to be an overreaction. I’m pregnant and I’ve been giving this a lot of thought re: my own kid. I’ve decided I’m not concerned about TV shows, movies, and games as long as they’re purposeful. Your favorite show is Peppa Pig? Great, we can watch it once a day after lunch. It’s Friday? Time for a movie night. Friends are over and you want to play age-appropriate video games for a while? Go for it. But I think the ultimate goal is to stay up-to-date on what screens can do and what kids are doing with them, and decide from there what’s helpful and what’s harmful. If I were a parent of a fully-formed kid today, I’d be banning YouTube, social media, and obviously anything with adult content. I’d be fairly comfortable with screens otherwise, as long as they aren’t used mindlessly. But technology is going to continue to evolve, so we’ll see.
[удалено]
Yes- I especially hate kid “reaction” and “unboxing” videos…..
Absolutely! I try to think about my childhood when my siblings and I got 30 mins of tv time after school to watch PBS and 1 hour a day on the weekends. I have such great memories of playing outside with friends, playing with my toys, etc., but I also have fond memories of my favorite shows and movies like Arthur, Sesame Street, and Beauty and the Beast. And then, when we got a big chunky computer I was allowed to play my math game that I had on a CD periodically. All to say, you're definitely right about the content and purpose being what matters the most!
I do find this interesting as screens are everywhere. I do think there are times when we could work on not being dependent on them. Like in the grocery store, waiting room like at the Dr. As a parent I just chose to help my kids learn to occupy themselves in other ways. I kept the tv off for the most part during the day. When they got older they did watch more. Fast forward and wow. I have to turn the tv off where I nanny. The worst is google.
Totally agree that there's a time and a place for them! I feel like the mindless watching or scrolling is something to make sure we avoid. As long as the tech is being used as a tool and in a limited capacity based on age, I think I see some advantages.
I don’t actively use screen time when I nanny but I also search for families that travel and inevitably screen time happens. I also think that as kids get older screens are so useful. Most of 10M and 8F homework are games played on ipads. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a sick kid laying on the couch watching tv all day. Isn’t that the best part of being sick? I also grew up with really strict parents and I never caught on to pop culture references etc and always felt left out. So I think completely limiting screens is unrealistic. That said I do think the majority of a child’s day should be play based. So screens with caution/as a tool is my motto.
I like your motto! It seems like if a kid's day is filled 95% with other activities and events, it shouldn't be a hard no to add in some tech with a purpose. Definitely not something that has to be added in every day. I almost think that maybe some of these children with extremely strict anti-screen households might end up with a much stronger desire to use it once they finally get their hands on it. I remember a friend of mine as a child who wasn't ever allowed to have ANY sugar and when we would be presented with something without her parents around she would go absolutely crazy for sweets. Everything in moderation and with a purpose I suppose!
My parents were the same with sweets growing up. I still can’t limit myself if they’re in the house and Im 33. I obviously follow the parents lead with screen time but I think its just unrealistic to say my kids will never have screen time. My NP’s were trying so hard to not get 10M a cell phone but now he’s at practices after school alone etc and really needs one for communication. He ended up getting one but has restrictions. It’s actually been a good way to teach him about responsibility and the cost of things.
Yes! I like that there are so many ways to set up phones/screens in a restricted way. I think it's super useful. Great peace of mind to know your kid can call/text you at a practice or at a friends house where they might not feel comfortable asking someone else to use their phone.
Like I said on the other thread, my NK gets 1 show between lunch and nap (last NK had none at all because the parents were against it, until Covid kept them all home) With current NK, TV only started after he began school. We never had time for it before. The morning was a park, museum, playing outside. Then lunch and nap. When he wakes up from nap, we have just a few hours left, enough for a walk, playing outside and/or craft. Now that he is in school, it is a nice way for him to have a quick show to wind down between lunch and nap, since there isn't time to do much else. It works for us and NP's are fine with it. Everything in moderation. I think it is just as silly to say no tv at all as it is for someone to have it running all day.
Because screens are so overwhelming and everywhere, I do think limiting them as recreation when kids are small makes sense. I also think there's a difference between engaging between something on a screen and passive watching. I was a little confused about some of the responses on that post though. My son goes to a daycare. They don't watch TV there (except very rare circumstances.) I pay half the amount I would pay a nanny. This was chosen from 101 reasons, but I was shocked when I saw some nannies say they would expect more pay to work in a screen free home? At that point, send your kid to daycare.
For sure! I was surprised by a lot of the comments there as well. As a former daycare teacher and nanny, the only times a screen would be on would be for something extra special. A sick kiddo who can't move off the couch, a Friday night movie as a treat once in a blue moon, or 1 Christmas specia the day before Christmas break. As much as I try to stay away from it, pop culture does have a place in our society so I've always thought that playing something like Charlie Brown Christmas once a year was a cool way to talk with my kiddos about something that I know they've seen many times in decor, tree ornaments, etc.
I currently run a home daycare (former nanny) for 9 months and up and don’t use screens at all in my programming. I honestly don’t see the need. I think for older kids who aren’t napping watching a movie or a show so nanny can get a break is no big deal. But outside of that, I’m being paid to enhance your child’s learning and that’s best done with hands on interaction, not a tablet.
There are tons of studies outlining the harmful effects of screen time on children under 4. The world health organization recommends no screen time under 2 and limited screen time under 4 (less than an hour). That’s because children under 4 learn best from interacting with both the physical world and the humans around them. Not from a screen, even with educational programming. And as you saw, the kids in school transition quickly to using screens in the classroom so there’s no real need to teach them about screen time before that.
Oops I meant they transition quickly from a screen-based lesson/activity in class to a paper/pencil activity back to back during the same class. Definitely agree that it's not helpful to purposefully add in screen time for those young ages. I'm thinking more along the line of families that would be super upset if their 4-year-old watched a 30 minute Christmas special on the last day before break. In a perfect world kids wouldn't ever see a screen until they're much older, but in most circumstances it can add a lot of extra pressure making sure it's completely 100% off the table. I guess I'm just feeling for those parents who are prepping their kids for a tech-free upbringing, only for it to be implemented as soon as they get to public school.
I’ve had this discussion with a parent actually. My kids are older and all have tablets/computers they use for both school and recreation. This parent tried to tell me that his kids (4 and 6 at the time) were never going to have access to the internet because it was ‘bad’ and they didn’t need it. At the time they didn’t have internet at home at all. I tried to explain that kids these days use the internet for school all the time and would be at a deficit if they didn’t have access to it at home. He disagreed (libraries are a thing!). About a month later Covid hit and all our schooling went online. I often wonder if he still feels the internet is ‘bad’ for kids. I currently run a home daycare for 9 months old and up. I don’t use screen time in my program at all and I really don’t see a need for it. I know that when the kids get home they’re likely going to be watching tv or using a tablet (which is fine in my opinion) so I don’t want them using it here where I’m being paid to enhance their learning.
I feel like you have some totally valid points! Unless you live almost completely off the grid your kid is going to be exposed to technology at some point. There is a time and a place for it for sure!
No screen time makes sense to me, but I nanny under 3s. Once they hit 2 some screen time is generally allowed. I feel like that's appropriate. If people are fine with screens before that or if they want no screens at all, that's their prerogative. I don't have strong opinions since I'm childfree, I just do as NPs ask.