Hi,

If you’re reading this, I’m going to guess you’re looking for some answers about screens, kids, and the chaotic world of opinions that comes with that. My goal is to save you some time and stress, and share my experience with screens; ultimately leading back to the idea that only you will be able to decide what is best; regardless of what influencers or academics say.

What qualifies me to tell you how to handle screens? Nothing! Bet that’s not the answer you were expecting! Truly, nothing – because I’m not your child’s mum, you are.

You are in charge.

I used to be the mum who watched TV with my kids, and then held all the feelings when I said the TV time was over. I used to be strict on what they watched (still am to an extent), and I used to limit the time we used them. Then, I had more than 1 child, and the story began to change.

All the research said, “screens are bad“.

“screens cause obesity”

“screens mean they can’t socialise”

“screens make them violent”

random opinions I read on the internet

So at one point I ended up saying to my kids “you can’t watch tv because it’s going to ruin your brain”. We went on a full screen detox. Which was great… until it wasn’t.

I was stressed. Guilty of any screen time, and often really short tempered because I didn’t catch a break.

Then I had a 3rd child… and we went the other way. No boundaries on how much they had, still with limits to what they watched, because I was in survival. I didn’t know what was okay anymore… we went from TV bans to TV overload, to 1 hour a day, half an hour, only tablets, only documentaries, we tried everything I could think of. All the while I read about how TV impacts kids behaviour and brain development, and I worried about how much our screen use was contributing to sibling arguments or emotional outbursts.

Flipside of this, without the TV, yes there were more regulated moments, and I absolutely loved seeing them play more; but I was even more tired, looking for things to do all the time, and basic household stuff (like dinner) became an extra challenge.

Screen time wasn’t for them. It was for me. Sometimes I needed 20 minutes to pause.

The result; a hybrid of screen use, where I focus less on the quantity of what they watch, but I am conscious of the quality and messages being given through their screen use, and I make sure to interact, enter their world and really get involved with the characters that are important to them when I can.

So… below are the few videos I’ve made on this juicy topic. It’s BIG and I am certain people will disagree; but I also know I’d have loved to find a voice saying these things 3 years ago.

The End

So there you have it. If you listened to all of them, I hope it’s been some food for thought.

Any questions, shoot them my way. Ironically, in the weeks it’s taken me to create this mini-course, we have lost our TV so are now operating with very limited screens, only using the laptop. It’s not ideal for me, and more than ever it’s pushed me to really value the screen time we have. Especially as a solo parent, and especially as a home educator, I use screens with my kids for entertainment, education and respite.

They aren’t as horrible as they’re made out to be in some circles, and they aren’t all sunshine and rainbows either. It’s about the balance.

How do you use screens? Have I prompted you to think more about them?

I’d love to hear from you.

As ever,

Thank you for reading.