How Screen Time Can Foster Learning, Connection, and Growth for Kids

Screen time often gets a bad rap in parenting circles. While it’s true that too much screen time can lead to a host of negative impacts on children, there are also several benefits of screen time. When done well, it can support things like education, family bonding, and social connection. Plus, not all screen time is created equal — it’s not just quantity that matters, but quality. 

But I get it, the parental worry (and guilt!) over screen time runs deep. That’s why it’s time to shift our perspective on screen time from an inherently harmful activity to a tool that, when employed thoughtfully, can offer significant benefits. 

The benefits of screen time 

If you’re still skeptical that screen time can be anything but bad, here are some of the ways it can benefit your child: 

• Educational and intellectual enrichment. When I was curious about a random subject as a kid, I was often limited by what was in our encyclopedia set. But my kids are able to follow their own curiosity to limitless depths thanks to the internet. Going online can be a wonderful way for kids to dive deeper on their interests, explore new subjects, develop skills, and engage with interactive learning tools. 
• Social connection. From messaging friends to playing video games with buddies and sharing cultural references, screen time can foster closer friendships for kids. 
• Family bonding. Family movie night, anyone? Or perhaps a weekend Mario Kart marathon. Co-viewing not only helps you stay in touch with what your kids are consuming online, but it’s also a lovely way to strengthen your relationship. 
• Downtime and brain breaks. Just like adults turn on the TV or scroll social media to shut down their brains at the end of the day, some kids need a little zone-out time after a long day of school. Even seemingly mindless screen time activities can provide a much-needed break. The key is to do it in moderation. 
• Enhance real-life activities. We often think of screen time and real-life activities as standing in opposition. But things like using a nature app to enhance an outdoor hike or a cooking video to inspire a family meal can actually complement and enrich real-life experiences. 

Not all screen time is created equal

It’s important to remember that not all screen time should be lumped into one bucket. Quality versus quantity matters. Here are some thoughts to help you differentiate beneficial screen time activities from those that are less so. 

Active vs. passive screen time

Active screen time involves cognitive thought or physical engagement, like playing a video game, learning a new skill, or creating something. Compared to passive screen time, such as watching TikTok or scrolling social media, active screen time has proven mental and physical benefits. 

Enrichment versus mindless scrolling

While it’s okay to let your kids do some mindless scrolling, it’s a good idea to set limits around it. For example, you might allow your teen to scroll social media apps for just 30 minutes a day.

On the other hand, it’s okay to be more lenient with activities such as science videos or enriching destinations like PBS Kids, Khan Academy, and Nat Geo Kids. If your child wants to spend more time on these platforms, consider extending their active screen time a bit longer. 

How to balance privilege with responsibility 

Access to devices is a privilege, one that can be earned through good behavior and meeting family expectations. Explain to your child that, like all privileges, screen time also comes with responsibility. 

This includes using social media responsibly and acting online the way you’d expect them to act in real life. A parental monitoring app like BrightCanary can be a useful tool as you guide them through this process — it shows you what they see and do online, on social media, and in text messages, so you can step in if you see anything concerning. 

Pro tip: Start with a more hands-on approach and then give them more independence as they get older.  

Everything in moderation 

Even the most beneficial screen time can be overdone. Moderation is essential, ensuring it doesn’t replace real-life interactions and activities. To help your kids find balance, set healthy screen time boundaries. 

We always recommend:

• Tech-free zones like no phones in the bedroom. 
• Tech-free times such as screens off before bedtime or no phones at the dinner table.
• Screen time limits using the features freely on your child’s devices, like Apple Screen Time.

And remember: our kids are watching and they learn from our behavior, whether they’ll admit it or not. That’s why it’s paramount to not just tell kids how to have healthy screen time habits — parents must also model a balanced approach to their own device use. 

Final thoughts

While there are negative impacts of too much screen time on kids, when used wisely, it can have positive effects, both mentally and physically. Parents should encourage active versus passive screen time, steer kids toward enriching online activities, and create balance by setting tech boundaries.