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Technology is incredible at making humanity faster, more efficient, and more powerful. Moreover, each generation starts earlier and earlier with technology, totally ignorant of how things used to be. Since our little ones will likely have even more technology and screens at our age, should we control their time with screens now?
Yes, parents should heavily restrict or avoid screen time for their toddlers. Ideally, toddlers over two years old will have no more than one hour of interactive screen time with a parent each day, and none of that time should be sitting idly alone staring at cartoons. Brain scans show us why.
In a world chock full of technology, screens, and instantaneous entertainment, it can be challenging to neglect using TV as a free babysitter. Let's dive into what we now know about how screens impact early development and whether there is a way to use screens well.
What Do We Know About TV's Impact on Toddlers?
Thanks to improved MRI imaging and brain development research, we can see the impact of screen time on developing minds. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends absolutely zero screen time for children under 18 months old and no more than one hour without a parent for ages 2 - 5 years old (source; source).
But why? Many parents today grew up with more than an hour of screen time, and we turned out okay---didn't we?
Scans of 3 - 5-year-old brains that have consumed more TV than the recommended one-hour limit show lower language, cognitive, and literacy skill development. Shockingly, this wasn't from a group of kids watching screens all day; the average was 2 hours a day (source).
Essentially, these scans show lower levels of white matter in the brain than what should be there!
Having lower brain structure and skills at these ages is a big deal because 90% of brain development happens before age 5 (source). Less white matter means less connectivity between the areas of the brain telling the body what to do (i.e., slower processing speed) (source).
Is Screen Time Bad for Toddlers?
As much as this research seems like a smoking gun against screen time, it isn't. We simply cannot say that TV, iPads, apps, and games directly impact toddler brain development. The problem may lie in what toddlers and preschoolers are not doing while consuming media.
For instance, toddlers given a room with a handful of toys will entertain themselves for the most part. They will engage in imaginative play, socialize, challenge their hand-eye coordination, and jabber about everything.
But what do toddlers do with a smartphone, tablet, or TV? They sit and stare at a screen. Screen time is usually a passive, one-way street with no quality interaction. For a rapidly developing young mind, each minute of idle screen time robs the brain of millions of new high-quality neural network connections (source).
Moving physically, conversing with a parent or sibling, exploring the area, and playing are powerful ways to make high-quality neural connections because they are multi-faceted. Toddlers doing life engage multiple senses, experiment with what they know, and connect with others while learning new things!
Language learning is massively impacted by how much a toddler actively plays imaginatively with others. Read more about this in The Power of Play in Speech Development: Best Activities for Toddlers.
Can Educational TV Shows Help Toddlers Develop?
Screen time may not be the big, ugly bad guy everyone seems to be making it out to be, but it certainly gets in the way of activities that make far better neural connections in a developing brain. Got it. So, are some types of screen time better than others for toddlers?
Yes and no. Educational programming (like PBS Kids) presents high-quality content in an age-appropriate way, whereas cartoons seek to entertain more than educate (even if they have educational elements).
Most cartoons aim to catch and keep attention with lots of movement, colors, sounds, and action, but this could actually lead to making toddlers and preschoolers disinterested and bored in real-life activities (source). The concern is that cartoons targeting toddlers and preschoolers may encourage sensation-seeking behaviors.
It may seem like toddlers watching Blaze and the Monster Machines, Paw Patrol, and Bubble Guppies are learning about friendship, teamwork, and a few science facts, but these are better learned from real-life practice.
How Can I Make Educational Screen Time Effective?
It is possible to glean more from educational TV shows and screen time. To make screen time productive, The best thing you can do is watch the show with your child and ask questions, turning "passive watching" into "active watching."
As for apps, choose open-ended, age-appropriate apps to engage your toddler or preschooler. A solid example is ABC Mouse. Again, something like this is best when the parent is involved. When it comes to screen time, you are the interactive element.
How Can I Do Screen Time Right with My Toddler?
You cannot entirely escape screen time these days. Sure, you could "get away" by homesteading off-grid, but most of us are not likely to do that. So, we must learn to use screen time sparingly and cleverly in step with our children's brain development.
Here are some ways to use screen time well:
1. Limit Exposure
Avoid screens entirely for toddlers and babies under 18 months old ( source ). This is reasonably simple since babies are typically not interested in screens for most of their first year. Between 2 and 5 years, parents should limit their child's screen time to an hour of high-quality content with at least one parent.
Families with older children watching TV or consuming media should be cautious about what plays while the baby or toddler is around. This may mean limiting older children to screen time after the youngest goes to sleep in the evenings.
The biggest challenge to limiting screen time typically comes from other family members or friends who spend significant time with your little one, like grandparents. What we know about the impact of screen time on young minds is relatively recent research that many are not aware of or care about yet.
So, if you must often rely on another friend or family member to watch your young child while you work, have a conversation about screen time. Unfortunately, some folks will not agree to keep the screen off, make media interactive, or ensure the media is age-appropriate.
Working out a solution that best fits your situation and your child's development is crucial to avoiding behavioral problems or developmental delays later in life.
2. Lead By Example
Little ones learn from their parents and older siblings' habits. So, if your little one sees you lounging on the sofa watching TikTok for long stretches of time or checking your phone every chance you get, you can bet she will eventually learn to be glued to a screen as well.
Working remotely online presents added difficulty in this realm because you must stay on top of emails and spend hours at work on a screen daily. Nonetheless, you can spend your breaks, meals, and free time screen-free with your child to demonstrate that screens are a tool, not life.
3. Avoid Using Screens On the Go
As nice as it is to quiet your cranky toddler down on a long drive, using screens on the road isn't ideal for development. Little ones need to spend time observing the world around them, and car rides present an opportunity to practice patience (for everyone in the vehicle).
Instead of defaulting to a tablet or phone in the car, try using an LCD drawing pad, listening to an audiobook, or jamming to music. My family will take a couple of books along to read as we go, which also helps pass the time.
Another option is having a small box of car toys. These toys become super valuable to toddlers if they can never take them out to play with elsewhere. Moonkie's On-the-Go Gift Set is outfitted with some excellent toys for traveling (being silicone, they clean easily in a pinch!).
You can find some other nifty travel toys for little ones in the 10 Best Travel Toys for Little Ones on the Go.
Do you plan to take more than one young child on a trip further than a few hours away? Learn from my experience in Traveling Abroad with a Toddler and Baby: Tips to Make Your Trip Smoother.
4. Don't Be Afraid of Free Play
Screen time is particularly tempting for parents as a free babysitter when chores need to happen, especially for parents with multiple children. However, leaving your child to sit and consume media removes any chances of making that time truly count toward brain development.
It's better to set up an activity that will keep your little one busy while you do chores and cook. Even better, give your toddler or preschooler a chore to help with!
But hey, some days are just too trying to make a lovely "family chore time" doable--I get that! Best advice: let your toddler figure it out. Free play is a vital skill your little one must develop during the toddler years, and thankfully, toddlers are inclined to do so naturally.
Sure, your work or chore time will be interrupted by questions, ta-das, and your fear of utter silence, but providing that free play time is essential for development nonetheless. Free play gives your child a chance to practice:
making independent decisions
engaging in imaginative play
playing creatively
testing "what ifs"
moving at one's own pace
making sense of something nearby
exploring senses
Montessori toys are designed with free play in mind. Learn more about how they work in 15 Questions First-time Parents Ask About Montessori Toys.
5. Make Video Games Social Events
Depending on your family culture, video games may be around your little one quite a bit, minimally, or not at all. Video games are interactive experiences but should be age-appropriate for little eyes and minds.
If video games are a favorite pastime in your family, make them social events or fun activities involving everyone. Babies and toddlers may only stare at the screen or mash buttons on a controller that isn't doing anything on the screen, but it won't be long before they want to participate as well.
Video games count toward the overall screen time, so try limiting it to an hour or less and be involved. Ask questions and play together!
6. Set Clear Screen Time Rules and Consequences
Developmentally, toddlers are learning independence and seeking ways to control what they do and when, hence all the tantrums. Your toddler may decide that clinging to a screen or watching "one more" episode is worth a battle of wills.
Obviously, if this happens every time you shut off a screen, you should consider eliminating screen time for a while. Otherwise, help your case by setting clear rules. Here are some ideas:
Set a physical timer next to the screen.
Explain and have your toddler confirm how many episodes he can watch.
Only do screen time at a particular time of day (i.e. during the baby's nap or while you cook dinner).
Shut down screen time if it sparks terrible behavior.
Enact a "leave screen time well" policy.
I had a "leave screen time well" policy for my kiddos. If they put it down right away with no crying or arguing, they could do screen time the next day. However, tantrums, back-talking, and bad behavior due to screen time's end meant no screen time the next day. This policy worked well after 3.5 years of age!
What Screen Time Is Good for Babies and Toddlers?
Screen time's negative impact on young children primarily comes from replacing quality neural connection building through real-life play and socializing with flat, one-way content. We've addressed ways you can make screen time more engaging for your little one, but is there such a thing as "good" screen time?
Yes, screen time spent talking with a real person via video chat is as close as you can get to "good" screen time for babies and toddlers. By chatting over video with family or friends, your little one is able to observe facial expressions, interact, and hear tones of voice.
Though video chats are helpful for connecting with friends and family far away, they are no replacement for physical presence, especially for babies and toddlers learning how to communicate with people.
Observing body language, space between individuals, and how people relate to the world around them is vital for little ones to develop their ability to communicate, behave appropriately, and express themselves. Unfortunately, video chats cannot provide all of that context, but they are still better than not communicating.
In a Nutshell
Screen time is a ridiculously hot topic in parenting, thanks to recent research. Parents must protect their children's developing minds in a world with screens, media, and marketing constantly targeting and pouring into individuals.
Perhaps less popularly, parents must also protect their own time and minds. It is so easy to get lost in zombie scrolling for far longer than we intended. Our children are watching and learning from our habits!
