Parents, Let Yourselves Off the Hook for Screen Time

It’s easy to worry about how much time your kiddo spends in front of the television, tablet or computer. STEM education expert Jennifer Flanagan tells us why allowing recreational screen time doesn’t actually make you a bad parent, and how to stop overthinking it.

As a parent, I know kids’ screen time is a daily battle cloaked in societal shame — they should be playing outside, they should be reading a book, they should be mastering a skill! But, as a youth education expert for the past 20 years, I also know that turmoil is unwarranted. That’s why I’m retiring my shame cloak. Packing it in a suitcase. Lighting the suitcase on fire. And I’m inviting others to do the same. Parents, it’s time to let yourselves off the hook for screen time.

Here's the most important message I can share in terms of easing the guilt: Not all screen time is created equal. Shift your focus from the quantity of time spent on screens to the quality of time spent on screens. The easiest way to do this? Control the content your kids or teens are consuming, making sure at least some (I suggest half) is either educational or facilitating social connection. 

There are so many wonderful science-based documentaries from PBS and BBC streaming on Netflix, for example. My daughters love Forces of Nature, The Day the Dinosaurs Died, Wild Alaska, Super Nature Wild Flyers and Monkey Planet. 

We also change the language settings on Netflix so that our kids can keep up their learning of other languages while watching their favourite shows. My kids actually get extra screen time if they watch shows in French. If your kids like listening to podcasts, a great science learning podcast is Tumble, which features stories of science discoveries.

Kids can learn new digital skills on a screen. For young children, try downloading Tynker, which walks them through coding in a fun, user-friendly way. For older teens, encourage them to take a free course on something interesting and relevant. Artificial intelligence is a cool topic that will continue to affect our everyday lives in the future. I’m a big fan of Element AI, a free online learning tool that covers the basics in addition to real world application.

Gaming is another popular on-screen activity that strikes fear into the hearts of parents. Again, not all games are created equal. Not only is Minecraft great in my opinion (and millions of players agree), it gets kids building, researching, reading schematics and following detailed, step-by-step instructions. Those are the types of games you want to look for. To keep up with math skills, try Prodigy or IXL — both are gamified math platforms that are curriculum-focused and fun, and you can easily share progress with teachers.

There are also social benefits to screen time. I’ll admit, I initially overlooked this critical aspect in the early days of the pandemic. In our house, virtual playdates were lifesavers. But there is one important note (which I’m sure you saw coming): It is critical that online safety rules are enforced and monitored. Talk to your kids each day about what they are doing online and who they are interacting with. Basic rules about privacy and security must still apply, and kids should not be talking to anyone they do not know in real life. 

If you do want some concrete guidelines to follow, guilt-free, you can set some parameters so kids know what to expect. Designate hours of the day when they can use screens, and other hours when they can’t. But, remember, no one has it all figured out — just know we’re in it together. Me, you and the screens.

Jennifer Flanagan is a thought leader and advocate for inclusive science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in Canada. As president and CEO of Actua, Jennifer leads a national network engaging 400,000 youth and 10,000 teachers each year across Canada. Actua is known for its impact on underserved audiences working extensively with girls and young women, Indigenous youth, rural and Arctic communities and youth facing socio-economic challenges.

SCREEN TIME LEVELLING UP

Looking for a new activity for screen time? Here are more apps that you won’t (and shouldn’t) feel guilty about letting your kids enjoy on a regular basis.

ABCmouse: Available as both an app and a website, ABCmouse is a favourite among parents and kids alike with fun activities designed to support literacy, math, science and art. There’s an annual subscription fee, but a 30-day free trial is available.

TVOKids: TVOKids has a variety of engaging, educational games and online challenges based on popular television shows like Dino Dana and Odd Squad. It’s perfect for elementary school-aged kids and has a specific section for preschoolers, and everything is free. Download the app or play online!

Epic Reading: This award-winning educational app is essentially a massive digital library full of great books for kids of all ages. Used by many educators, Epic Reading will suggest new titles based on what your kids like. It’s a subscription service, and there are also audiobook options and other learning activities.

Goodness Shapes: This is a great app for toddlers and preschoolers that helps teach shapes, colours, sorting and matching. Kids will find it easy to navigate and parents will be able to drink an entire cup of coffee in peace. It’s available on iOS. 

NSF Science Zone: This app (formerly Science360) is great for older kids who are interested in learning more about science. It’s mostly comprised of educational videos, but the quality is impressive and the information comes from trusted sources at the National Science Foundation.