Not All Screen Time is Equal - modernfamilyblog.com

Recently, my seven-year-old was glued to the latest “Octonauts” movie. He excitedly informed me about the numerous volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean. “Yes,” I replied, “that’s known as ‘The Ring of Fire.’” He responded with, “I know! The Ring of Fire surrounds the entire Pacific Ocean. Some volcanoes are small, while others are massive.” After watching, he quickly returned to his show. I mentioned it again while writing this, and he reiterated his knowledge about the Ring of Fire. He absorbed that information from a cartoon. So go ahead and complain about screen time, but remember: it’s not all created equal.

If you disagree, you must have never experienced the joys of “Sesame Street” as a child. I personally use Duolingo for Spanish, and when I reach the numbers section, the “Sesame Street” counting song pops into my head to help me remember seis and siete (I always mix them up!). “Sesame Street” taught me:

Basic Spanish vocabulary
Environmental awareness
The concept of loss (we miss you, Mr. Hooper)
Number recognition (thanks to a vampire)
My letters (no joke—I genuinely learned my letters through “Sesame Street”)

Sure, my parents let me watch plenty of shows like “David the Gnome,” “The Smurfs,” and “My Little Pony,” but “Sesame Street” was worth every second of screen time. With the rise of quality children’s programming, there’s no reason to categorize all screen time as harmful. Not everything is like “Caillou.” My kids may indulge in some less-than-stellar content (hello, “Dragonriders” franchise), but they also enjoy a lot of enriching programs.

So, hold off on the judgment. In our household, we enjoy plenty of educational shows like “The Magic School Bus.” Everyone knows Ms. Frizzle is both entertaining and informative. It’s not just about my kids watching “Amphibia” or “Gravity Falls,” no matter how enjoyable those shows may be. We also have “Odd Squad,” “Dino Dan,” and “Dino Dana.”

The Judgment of Screen Time

When I mention that my children watch TV during lunch and often at dinner, you might be horrified. You may think I’m a terrible parent, contributing to the decline of modern society and ruining family life. But when I explain that they exclusively watch documentaries we’ve selected about their homeschool subjects—paleontology and human evolution, their favorite areas of science—it changes the narrative.

Imagine my kids munching on chicken nuggets while watching a documentary about Denisovans, learning how their DNA may have influenced certain human populations. They’re absorbing knowledge, correctly pronouncing “Neanderthal,” and understanding their historical context and extinction theories. Why does it matter that this information comes from a screen?

Screen Time is the Future

Discussing this with my husband, a high school teacher, reinforces the notion that screen time is an integral part of the future. If you struggle to pry your child away from their devices, remember they’re preparing for a world where screens will be omnipresent. My oldest reads physical books, but he also reads on his Kindle Fire. Is that screen time? Whether he’s enjoying a Star Wars novel or comic on his device, it’s still reading.

He also uses his tablet for researching UFO sightings. In schools, students utilize laptops not just for word processing but also for watching educational videos and reading texts from sites like Project Gutenberg, all while connecting with friends online.

The Value of Socializing Through Screens

Do you have online friends? So does my 11-year-old. They even play Dungeons and Dragons together on Thursday nights. Especially during the pandemic, screen-based socializing has become vital. Of course, there is potential for toxicity, and we all know how easy it is to get sucked into the digital world. The risks of letting kids socialize online—like exposure to inappropriate content or cyberbullying—are real, and it’s tempting to restrict their access altogether.

Yet, using predictive text on Messenger has greatly assisted my dysgraphic son in improving his writing skills. Facebook Messenger Kids has allowed him to stay connected during the pandemic, and Google Hangouts has facilitated his D&D sessions with friends. This screen time has been far from wasted; it has contributed positively to his mental health during a challenging year.

So, let’s stop judging all forms of screen time. Yes, some parents may let their kids mindlessly play video games without any educational benefit, but much of screen time offers valuable experiences. So, don’t be quick to criticize, even if my kids are currently absorbed in “Amphibia.”

This article was originally published on April 12, 2021.

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Summary:

The author discusses the varying impacts of screen time, emphasizing that not all screen exposure is harmful. By sharing personal anecdotes and examples of educational programming, the piece highlights the value of quality content, even in the digital age. It also addresses societal judgments regarding screen time and promotes a balanced understanding of its benefits.

Keyphrase: Screen time education
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