Too Much Screen Time During a Pandemic? Chill Out, Everyone

On January 19, 2021, writer Sam Roberts published an article titled “Children’s Screen Time Has Skyrocketed During the Pandemic, Worrying Parents and Experts.” Unsurprisingly to actual parents, Roberts shares alarming tales and statistics about children whose screen time has seemingly taken over their lives. An expert who previously reassured parents about children and screens has changed her tune; now we hear that kids are spending twice as much time on digital platforms compared to last May. “Any remaining limits have disappeared,” he notes. A professor ominously warns of a “massive withdrawal phase” ahead. “Countless kids under 10” are glued to TikTok! Fortnite! Snapchat! Meanwhile, parents feel helpless. Kids are engrossed in first-person shooter games. Video games have morphed into social tools and emotional outlets.

Hey, Sam? Seriously?

My Kids Are Active, Dude

Let me explain, Sam. My spouse and I have health challenges. Our three sons, ages 7, 9, and 11, have been socially distanced since March 13, 2020. We had the foresight and privilege to invest in an above-ground pool and a trampoline, but it’s January now. There aren’t any critters to catch; yesterday the winds were at 30 miles per hour; plus, my two youngest will likely emerge from this needing therapy because they’re too anxious to step beyond our mailbox.

We’re highly engaged parents. We play board games, do arts and crafts, and chase them around the yard. Thankfully, they have each other to play with, and being close in age, they create their own games. My youngest two have invented a strange LEGO land filled with creatures called “flubbers” living on “Flubber Island.” My middle son makes films. My youngest has an obsession with a game called Castle Defense, which he plays solo. My oldest enjoys podcasts.

My Kids Can Only Play for So Long Before Screens Come Out

But all that activity only lasts so long. Eventually, the tablets come out. I work. My spouse works. We need alone time because, surprise, we’re confined in the same space as our kids 24/7, almost every day of the year. Sometimes, we crave an adult conversation without interruptions about:

Who’s cheating at a board game
Who moved Flubber Island
Who destroyed whose art project

So, we let them use their Kindle Fires, as we always have, because we’ve consistently allowed reasonable screen time. They might play games like Bad Piggies, Rise of Berk, or Jurassic World: The Game. Or, they might watch shows like “Gravity Falls,” “Amphibia,” or some version of “How to Train Your Dragon.” This keeps them quiet and gives us the adult time we desperately need. With a pandemic ongoing, we need that time more than ever. Just the other night, I turned to my spouse and said, “Let’s just put on a movie for them so we can relax.”

“Absolutely,” he replied. On went “Isle of Dogs.” And I refuse to feel guilty about it.

It’s not like we shut ourselves in our bedroom for other activities, though honestly, there’s nothing wrong with that. We read books without interruptions, discussed work, and quoted “Sealab: 2021” back and forth. We needed to unwind. I still refuse to feel guilty.

Not All Screen Time Is Created Equal

Yes, my kids are getting more screen time now than before the pandemic—substantially more. But Sam, not all screen time is the same. My oldest connects with his friends online, which he desperately needs right now since other social interactions are limited. If I handed him a phone and told him to make calls, you’d criticize that, too. So, he might as well learn to interpret facial expressions and type. They also play Dungeons and Dragons through Facebook Messenger Kids. No shame in that.

What about my other sons? Sure, some of their screen time includes “Star Wars: Clone Wars.” But they also watch “Planet Earth: 2” and engage with a game that teaches anatomy by helping them memorize the bones in their bodies. My youngest completed a puzzle game called Monument Valley. My oldest reads Darth Vader comics and other literature.

They even experiment with MIT’s Scratch coding program, use drawing applications, and create movies. One game even helps them memorize the elements. Yes, it all counts as screen time by any measure, but I don’t believe it’s damaging their minds.

So Chill About Screen Time

We are parents navigating a global pandemic—an unprecedented situation. We never imagined waking up to this nightmare, whose scale is quickly becoming biblical. I worry about whether my kids are learning resilience, civic responsibility, and kindness toward each other. I’m not overly concerned about having to detox them from video games once this is over.

Sure, my 11-year-old is currently immersed in a “Star Wars” shooting game. Judge me all you want. My other two are engaged in a game that involves the periodic table on my computer and a Kindle Fire. So much screen time, and you know what? I don’t care. We are doing our best to survive one of the hardest times our family has ever faced. Screen time is the least of my worries.

Stop shaming us parents. We depend on our devices, and so do our kids. Forcing them to disconnect from their friends, like some parents mentioned in the article? That seems unnecessarily harsh and potentially more damaging than spending extra time in front of a screen.

You do what works for you, of course. But for me, I’ll hand my kids a screen when necessary, like most parents across America, and they will be just fine.

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Summary

Parents are managing screen time for their children during the pandemic in various ways. The article argues that the increased screen time is not necessarily harmful, as children can engage in educational and social activities through digital platforms. It acknowledges the unique challenges families face and emphasizes the importance of allowing screen time as a means of coping during these unprecedented times.

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