Screen time is a key bad word among most parents that I talk to. They are either trying to limit or completely eliminate screen time from their kids lives. I have heard parents brag "well we only allow screen time on the weekends" or "we limit screen time to only 30 minutes a day." These parents are so proud of the fact that their kids don't sit around watching TV, movies or playing on IPads.
I just smile and nod my head. My "good parent" side cringes because I do think my boys sometimes spend too much time laying around watching screens. There are limits to everything and I think some boundaries need to be set and enforced. However, just like most areas moderation needs to be practiced. Too much of anything typically is a bad thing. Chocolate cake can and should be enjoyed. But, too much will cause a myriad of health issues. That doesn't mean we don't eat it at all. We allow the adults in the situation to provide it in moderation. I think the same should be true for screen time in children. ***Note: I am not a doctor or child psychologist. Just a parent trying to raise healthy, happy boys.
Recently my boys watched (and are now rewatching repeatedly) the movie Sing. The movie features many animated animals in a singing contest and performance. As a result of this movie my boys have gained a tremendous love and appreciation for music. We now have a mini-kids sized piano in our living room and it is played regularly. My boys are more interested in singing and dancing and acting as they reenact their favorite scenes from this and other movies. Watching them the past few weeks has inspired me to list several advantages I see from kids having "some" screen time.
With all that being said, here are some definite advantages of screen time:
1.) My boys have their imagination sparked every time they watch television (mostly Netflix and some Disney). They can experience the world in a new and imaginary way. They are challenged to think outside the box of what is possible and enter a world of make believe. That is incredibly powerful for their young minds. I don't want my boys boxed in the world that can be seen around them. I want them to experience make believe and pretend.
2.) My 20 month old son can now access Netflix and select exactly the show that he wants. He is being technologically prepared in ways that simply don't happen by reading books or playing in the backyard. My son still has a natural love for books and he spends plenty of time flipping through the pages of his many favorite books. However, the fact is that he can do things technologically that I couldn't until I was 30 years old (because they didn't exist). Whether we like it or not, the world is going to get more technologically advanced. Kids who are raised with a natural ability to play and tinker electronically are going to be light years ahead of those who don't. My kids still spend countless hours exploring streams, playing in sand boxes, riding bikes, planting and weeding gardens but they also have the advantage of being tech savvy at a very young age.
3.) Television and other screens allow my boys to have experiences that we simply could never have as a family any other way. They can explore the Himalayas, swim under the oceans, travel to the savannahs of Africa. They are able to go on adventures in the Wild West. Yes, we want to do as many things as possible in the physical realm, but technology allows us to have many great experiences as a family from the comfort of our living room.
4.) Sitting mindlessly in front of a TV can be very educational for kids. There are some incredibly educational and brain stimulating things to watch on TV. Some of the games that my guys play are incredibly educational and build their brain power and problem solving ability. Who knows, maybe a few hours a month of playing Angry Birds may lead to one of them developing a love for engineering or architecture. There are shows that are teaching them valuable lessons about science (octonauts comes to mind), history, music and math.
Yes, kids need to exercise, play, read, color and draw and turn off the TV. However, if you are like me and allow your kids to have "some" screen time, quit feeling guilty and understand that there are some definite benefits. The key again is MODERATION in all things!
