Screen Time in the
Age of Coronovirus
Don’t feel guilty. We are living through a massive cultural
shock. Families have enough stress to deal with, and counting
screen minutes should be very low on the list of concerns for any of
us.
Not all screens are created equal. Worried that the
online classroom is adding to your kid’s screen time? Don’t be.
Screen activities shouldn’t be lumped together. Some are educa-
tional; some are just for fun. Some are high-quality; some are a
guilty pleasure. What we do on screens and how we do it is more
important than time spent.
For parents like me (I have a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old)—
who are suddenly assuming multiple roles as caregivers, teach-
ers, and playmates—the same questions are on repeat: What in
the world am I going to do with my kids all day from now until who
knows when? And … how many movies is it OK for them to watch
in one day?
Parents tend to think of screen use guidelines as a daily maxi-
mum amount that’s acceptable. But if you look closely at popular
recommendations, such as the ones from the American Academy
of Pediatrics, the message—even
before the coronavirus pandemic—
is much more nuanced, and much
less focused on time.
For a while now, media re-
searchers have been advocating
for a shift from screen quantity to
content quality. If kids are engaged
with high-quality content that
stokes curiosity and fuels imagina-
tion, who’s to say that should end
when they’ve hit their screen limit?
Research has also uncovered the
importance of kids’ experience with media, based on who uses
media with kids (siblings? parents?), the purpose of the content
(school? entertainment?), and who’s talking with kids about what
they’re watching (Daniel Tiger and Tiger King both make for great
mealtime conversation). In other words: Context matters, too.
Key to this nuance is understanding that all screens are not
equal. We shouldn’t act as though one hour of old DuckTales
cartoons is the same as one hour of Zooming with a family member,
or one hour of playing Fortnite with a friend, or one hour of drawing
tutorials on YouTube. What a kid gets out of each is totally different,
and satisfies different needs—and that’s OK.
One of the things the current crisis has really brought home is
how unbelievably social kids are, and want to be. In some ways,
our adaptations to staying at home have made us use technology
in ways that are great for children: in service of relationships. Kids
may be watching more Netflix and playing more video games than
usual. But they’re also video-chatting more, playing games with
schoolmates, and even enjoying online playdates. Though nothing
will ever replace in-person interaction for children, using tech to
strengthen relationships is more important than ever.
With that in mind, here are some recommendations when it
comes to using screens during this time:
Eastern Shore Parents I May 2020
Good content is key. Choose age-appropriate, high-
quality media and tech for your kids. Use our reviews to find good
content.
Get creative. Let kids use your phone to
shoot photos and videos and then go to town with
stickers, slo-mo, and other editing tools. Give them a
prompt like, “Take ten pictures of something round,
and then write a story connecting each thing.” Have
them make their own memes, record a song, cho-
reograph a dance video—anything that gets them
using screens to fulfill their imaginations.
Use tech to bond. Relationships are critical
to kids’ healthy development. Tech can and should
help kids connect to friends and family, collaborate
with each other, play, and share stories, pictures,
and videos.
Talk about it. We’re in a unique position where kids are
likely using screens more, and we may have more opportunities to
join them—or at least engage with them about what they’re watch-
ing and playing. Ask questions about their favorite games, shows,
and characters. Discuss ideas and issues they read about or learn
about through a TV show or a game. This is an opportunity for
learning about each other and sharing your values.
Balance still matters. We should aim for a balance
throughout the week. So, more screens? Fine. But also find time
to be outside, to be active (indoors or outdoors, with or without
screens), eat well, and talk to friends and family (on the phone, on
social media, or on video chat).
The time at home with kids presents an opportunity to bond
with them, even over media. This is not the time to try to deprive
kids of something they enjoy and something that research has
shown to have positive effects when used appropriately. There’s a
ton of great high-quality content out there—let your kids use it, use
it with them, and don’t guilt yourself over something that can still
be part of a healthy, balanced childhood—especially during these
times of heightened stress.
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