My kids are allowed screen time, and that’s okay.

A few things happened all in the same week that made me decide I want to share my perspective on screen time.

  • A delivery guy at work stopped me to tell me he sure hopes I don’t let me kids use screens. Side note: I work in an office, not around kids. I’m not sure how he knew I have kids or why he offered this.
  • Next, a stranger rolled their eyes at me when I got my phone out at the park. Side note: My kids had a question about rollie pollies I was looking up. I am not a rollie pollie expert, but I did have a phone on me with access to that information.
  • Finally, I kept seeing articles on social media about how screens cause speech delay in children. Side note: It wasn’t the content in the articles that got to me but the quick-to-judge comments blaming parents for ruining their kids and the world because of screens. Why do I read the comments?!?

So here it goes. My kids are allowed screen time, and that’s okay.

Apart from watching PBS kids on TV, my son did not use screens until he was at least 3. He has a speech delay. My daughter started using hand held devices around 1. She is a chatterbox. The effects of screen time are not absolute. 

Using his tablet has actually helped my now 5 year old son, who along with a speech delay has had sensory issues. He watches other kids that do toy reviews or play games. When my son is finished watching his tablet he actually wants to play and socialize more, like the kids in the videos. He also is kicking butt on a reading app and builds things he’s learned about on his tablet. Thanks to her tablet my almost 3 year old daughter can recite or sing just about any nursery rhyme you can think of and does yoga on hers. 

Here are some things we’ve done that were inspired by my kids playing online. All of these were their ideas.

We built a castle after watching clips of Ireland to learn about St. Patrick’s Day.

 

We got messy trying to make green slime after watching some science experiments online.

 

We drew Mario characters then taped them on straws. Ta-da! Mario brownies after watching a clip of the show Cake Wars.

 

We do yoga along with Cosmic Kids Yoga channel on Youtube.

 I think it is about balance

We use their tablets and my phone to look up pictures and information about things they are interested in and have questions about. We use books too. I don’t see anything wrong with using devices as an extra resource though.

There’s junk and quality in everything our kids can be exposed to. Screen content is no different. My kids use screens but not unlimited. My husband and I monitor what they watch and do.  Yes, my kids have tablets, but they also play in the mud and swim and garden and run and play and read.  

 I’ll be minding my own business.

This is a friend’s baby while they were eating out. It doesn’t mean they use tablets at dinner time at home. It means her baby isn’t bothering other guests while they eat.

 I also think each child and family is different. What works for us right now may not always work. What works for us certainly may not be best for you and yours. I am not immune to being judge-y myself. I’m sure there are those that do use screens too much or as “babysitters”. But thanks to these recent screen related incidents I have had, with the delivery guy, stranger at the park, and social media comments, I am going to try to not assume anything about what another parent is doing for and with their kids.

I am going to remember these encounters the next time it seems like someone’s kid has watched a lot of TV lately. Maybe mom has been sick. I am going to remember these encounters the next time I see someone give their kid a device when eating out. Maybe the kid was on the verge of a meltdown and the parents were trying not to bother other patrons while they get the bill paid. Heck, I am going to remember these encounters when someone says their child isn’t allowed screen time at all. I will assume parents are doing what they feel is best for their child. I hope that I will be afforded the some courtesy. 

But now at our house my kids my kids are allowed screen time, and that’s okay.

Previous articleThe Dad Who Watches
Next articleOklahoma City Metro 4th of July Events 2017
Lacey Hamilton
I am originally from northeast Oklahoma. I attended college at the University of Central Oklahoma and stuck around the Oklahoma City area after graduation. Now I am a breadwinning wife and mom. I have 3 amazing kiddos and 2 mini dachshunds. As a family, we try to live as low maintenance and stress-free as possible. Our home is full of playing, laughing, cooking, eating, swimming, praying, gardening, reading, napping, dancing, and hugging puppies.

6 COMMENTS

  1. Sometimes I let the tv babysit for a little bit so that I can hop in the shower or call the doctor, or get dinner prepped and I think that’s okay. I’m trying to teach my tot to entertain herself but it’s a work in progress and sometimes I just need to get something done. You do what you gotta do.

  2. I don’t understand the obsession with screen time. It seems like there is some kind of cult against this. I am a CPA who grew up with TONS of screen time. First, there was no limits to how much TV I could watch, but as one of five kids, we’d often times play or fight each other instead.

    Second, when Nintendo first became very popular, I was hooked, and my parents didn’t really limit how much we could play, so my brothers and I played all the time. I will admit I didn’t have the highest grades, but that was mostly due to lack of motivation, and not screen time.

    I can’t say I am a perfect human being by any means, but I am still managing to have achieved a successful career along with being able to retire early at 41.

    I think limits on screen time are OK, but I find it to be a very useful tool. Sometimes chores have to be done that requires the kids not bothering us at all, and screen time is perfect for these occasions.

    • I sincerely appreciate your perspective and sharing it here, thank you. One of our managers at work was actually in the break room when the delivery guy tried to randomly talk to me about my kids’ screens. The manager rolled his eyes and said, “When I was a kid people said TV was going to ruin everything. Then it was popular music. Then it was comic books. It’s always going to be something.”

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here