In Defense of Screen Time

You know I've never seen this movie?

 

Eli watches a lot of TV. Probably too much. By proxy, Grayson watches a lot too. Now that I think about it, Gray probably watches MORE because she gets to see Eli's shows on top of the grownup programs. Jess and I also probably watch too much TV. Parenthood is hard work, so forgive me if I like to relax in front of the old boob tube for a few hours a day.

Of course we've all read that "Screen Time" is unilaterally BAD FOR KIDS. The American Academy of Pediatrics weighs in: "Television and other entertainment mediashould be avoided for infants and children under age 2." Which means no TV, no computers, no tablets or smartphones for two whole years. Meaning, I guess, that I'm supposed to spend those first twenty-four months paying attention to my kid, or something. Which, frankly, sounds unilaterally EXHAUSTING.
 

WARNING: The music in these videos is DANGEROUSLY catchy.

 

When he was a baby, we never bothered to shield Eli from our shows. But for his own viewing we started him out on Baby Signing Time at around 6mo, which he enjoyed immediately and quickly picked up a few basic signs from, making day to day communication a little easier for everybody at home. He has since learned how to navigate Netflix on his own and has a whole plethora of shows (mostly educational) he's largely picked out for himself through independent exploration of what's available. Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood is the current favorite, and (imo) probably one of the best kids shows out there. We supplement with a list of movies or shows I find on the internet. Pixar movies abound, obviously. We're also fans of Teen Titans Go!

 

Daniel Tiger is an updated version of the old Mr. Roger's
Neighborhood. And a HUGE hit with all the kids I encounter.

 

He also spends a lot of time on the tablet and computer. Grayson not so much. When I first got our tablet about a year ago, he was extremely eager to use it. I did a little research and found a couple programs good for teaching toddlers how to use touchscreens. We started with one called "Escape the Bee" that's just a bee on screen, and where ever you touch he'll fly over to your finger. If you drag a pattern he'll follow it. And that's about it. Within a month he could navigate the device almost completely, rarely (if ever) asking for help. The desktop computer didn't come until a couple weeks ago. It seems to me a mouse and keyboard are no where near as intuitive as a touchscreen. But, with the help of a few 3yo-oriented websites, he's picking it up faster than I would have expected.
 

"Escape the Bee"

I feel obliged to mention here that as of now Eli (3.5yo) can count well past 30. He knows all his colors, shapes, and has been singing the alphabet flawlessly(ish) for more than a year. All of this he's learned from television, with little to no help from me.

The implication from the anti-screentime crowd seems to be "that excessive media use can lead to attention problems, school difficulties, sleep and eating disorders, and obesity." (AAP again) There are lots and lots and lots of websites out there quoting elaborate studies about how harmful it can all be to your precious baby's innocent eyeballs.

But what do these studies really say? Is ALL screentime equal? Are Sesame Street and Texas Chainsaw Massacre equivalent variables? Do the games on PBSKids.org have the same cognitive effects as Grand Theft Auto? Where were the parents when these studies were being conducted? And what about the simple fact that a basic understanding of touchscreen technology is a fundamental NEED for anyone coming into our modern way of life?

The Street has changed A LOT since we were kids.

 

Really, I'm just having trouble with the black and white nature of the conversation.

Okay, fine. My kids watch too much TV. I admit it. And yet, they are sweet, social, and healthy (so far). It's not as if they're getting locked in a basement with nothing but a pale television screen to keep them warm at night. Most of the time I'm sitting a couple feet away, either lost on Facebook or nosedeep in a comicbook. Grayson and I watch The Walking Dead together every Monday afternoon. Eli's favorite position for movie watching is nestled in Jess' legs while she reads the New Yorker. We cook and eat together, make cookies, play superheroes, and sometimes all nap together in our king-sized bed.
 

This is not us.

 

Does this sound like a dysfunctional family?

 

If so, then we'll just have to agree to disagree. I just finished downloading The Wolverine and plan to watch it while my kids are asleep. Your approval is not necessary to this plan.