Menu Haters gonna hate.
I don’t restrict my child’s screen time—don’t come for me. Sure, I’m aware of the guidelines and recommendations, but I find them a bit exaggerated.
Let me explain: I don’t mind how much TV my four-year-old watches. While I do set boundaries around certain types of content—like violence, profanity, and adult themes—I’m not concerned with the clock. That said, my son typically watches only about an hour on weekdays, split between before and after preschool, and a bit more on the weekends. Often, he doesn’t even ask to watch TV at all. I believe that’s because we’ve never made it a forbidden fruit; conventional wisdom suggests that restricting access makes kids want it more. Usually, he’ll watch a bit, then want to go outside for a bike ride or dive into an art project, or he may simply wander off to play. For now, screens don’t have a tight grip on him. If that changes, I’ll reassess, but I prefer to maintain a relaxed approach.
When he is watching, he isn’t just staring blankly at the screen. He’s glancing up to see the color of Goofy’s hat for his drawing, rushing to grab a book about sea creatures after a mention of cuttlefish in The Octonauts, or asking questions about particles and light waves after watching Ask the StoryBots. For him, screen time is more about engagement than passive consumption; it’s an interactive experience that sparks curiosity rather than dulls the mind. Even during the delightful Mickey Mouse shorts, he’s inquiring about a character’s emotions or identifying unfamiliar objects. As parents, our main goal is to teach our children how the world works and how to navigate it. Why can’t the glowing screen in our living room—filled with knowledge—assist in that journey?
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children under two should avoid screens entirely and that older kids should be limited to an hour per day. I respect scientific research and don’t subscribe to the belief that anecdotal evidence outweighs established findings. Studies show that toddlers often don’t learn much from screens because they don’t perceive them as part of their reality. In one experiment, toddlers who watched a video of a toy being hidden in another room failed to find it when led there; they simply didn’t connect the dots. However, when the screen mimicked a window, they easily located the toy. To young children, TV is just entertainment, not a learning tool.
That said, I don’t think that occasional screen time is harmful for toddlers, and I certainly don’t see it as a serious detriment to their development. Research indicates that co-viewing with an adult can enhance a child’s comprehension of what they’re watching. So, while enjoying a film like Finding Nemo, I can point out Marlon’s sadness or explain the vastness of the ocean. This is learning, too. When my son encountered the Atlantic Ocean at two years old, he exclaimed, “Whoa, big ocean!”—a direct result of our shared viewing experiences.
The anxiety surrounding screen time feels like just another moral panic. In the ’80s, it was about working mothers; in the ’90s, it was violent video games; today, it’s screens ruining our kids’ brains. It’s perplexing how parents are constantly deemed to be failing. If your 18-month-old watches a movie during a flight, you’re not going to face parental judgment. If your 23-month-old finds comfort in the soothing voice of David Attenborough while you prepare for work, you’re doing just fine.
I find the argument of “I watched a lot of TV growing up and turned out fine” unconvincing. We should strive to improve upon our parents’ methods, learning from their experiences. My point is that TV is enriching my child’s understanding of the world, rather than hindering it. I approach screen time similarly to how I view intuitive eating. If children learn that food isn’t a source of anxiety or guilt, they will develop a healthy relationship with it, making wise choices without excessive pressure. This idea applies to screen time as well. Children need the freedom to explore and learn moderation on their own terms.
If the AAP guidelines resonate with you, that’s perfectly valid. If your child struggles with self-regulation and needs boundaries around screen time, that’s also valid—every parent knows their child best. For me, I focus on real challenges in my son’s life, like dealing with peers who label colors as “for boys” or navigating his food allergies. Parenting is challenging enough without adding unnecessary worry over something that has been beneficial for our family. I’d much rather cuddle with him and explore topics like mudskippers, the human ear, or the components of Saturn’s rings, enjoying the peace of mind that comes from not treating every aspect of parenting as a life-or-death situation.
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