You might think we’re out of our minds for not imposing screen time limits in our home. Perhaps you envision our children glued to their devices, lost in a world of shows, Minecraft, and endless YouTube videos, completely devoid of fresh air or social interactions. You might even think I’m lazy (which, I admit, is true sometimes) or indifferent about my kids’ futures. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Honestly, I wouldn’t be able to track how long my children are on their screens in a day, nor would I want to. I refuse to walk around with a timer, reminding them, “Your time is almost up, kiddos!” Such a scenario would give me a mini meltdown if someone did it to me, so I won’t do it to them.
I’m self-aware about my strengths and weaknesses as a parent. I’m not the type of mom who can maintain a chore chart or stick with a weekly meal plan. My calendar resembles a chaotic jumble of appointments and activities, and we’re often just lucky to arrive anywhere on time. To all the organized parents out there, how do you manage it all? (Rhetorical question)
My parenting style leans toward spontaneity and optimistic thinking, often while “winging it.” And yes, I’m fantastic at dropping everything for an ice cream run with the kids. However, keeping a daily tab on their screen time is not a priority for me. If I sense they’ve been on their devices too long or hear that whiny pitch in their voices—enough to make the neighbor’s dogs howl—I gently encourage them to head outside, grab a book, or unleash their creativity through painting.
This approach works seamlessly for our family. We do keep an eye on the content they engage with. We have designated “tech-free” zones, like during meals, and we ensure they spend time outdoors rather than being cooped up all day. But we don’t micromanage their screen time. Timers don’t exist in our household.
Interestingly, the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidelines on screen time seem to align with our philosophy. They emphasize developing a family media plan that considers each child’s health, education, and entertainment needs. For kids ages 2-5, they recommend limiting screen time to no more than one hour a day. However, getting my little ones to sit still for five minutes has always been a challenge, so I’m not overly concerned. Their core message is about using common sense.
Moreover, my children aren’t the type to want to be glued to a screen all day, so I don’t find it stressful. As I write this, they’re engaged in a contest to see who can hop on a pogo stick the longest. Earlier, they built a fort in the backyard using branches and played for hours in our VW van. Not a single screen in sight, and I haven’t had to intervene. Shhh…
Allowing them to self-regulate their screen time fosters autonomy and reduces my need to hover, ensuring their brains don’t become foggy from excessive technology. Of course, there are days when I remind them to “go be bored!” when they’re not doing a great job of pulling themselves away from the screens. But if they’re not acting like dazed zombies, I don’t mind. Technology has its place, and I enjoy my own screen time just as much as they do.
Life today presents unique challenges compared to past generations. Many of us work from home, modeling screen behavior throughout the day because it’s a necessity. Technology is here to stay, and we each need to navigate it within our families. Screen time enforcement isn’t a battle I’m willing to fight, so I mostly let my kids self-regulate.
In summary, our home may not have screen time limits, but we maintain a balanced approach that encourages healthy habits while allowing for autonomy. For more insights on parenting and family dynamics, check out this excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination or explore our other engaging content on couples’ fertility journeys.