Are you tired of hearing about the negative effects of screens on children? So was I. As a writer, it felt like every pitch or article idea had to involve some kind of cautionary tale about kids and technology. But after years of limiting myself to this topic, I decided it was time for a shift. In this blog post, I’ll share my journey from writing solely about the dangers of screens to empowering parents with practical tips and insights for navigating our increasingly digital world. It’s time to move away from fear-mongering and towards a more balanced approach that acknowledges both the benefits and challenges of raising kids in today’s tech-savvy society.
Background
When I started blogging eight years ago, one of my goals was to share my knowledge and help other parents raise better kids. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that parenting is more than just policing what our kids do on screens.
Sure, I still want them to avoid screens for as long as possible, but the reality is that they’re going to use screens at some point in their lives – whether it’s for homework, playing games, or checking Facebook.
So instead of writing about how to limit screen time and teaching our kids not to be addicted to technology, I’ve decided to shift my focus away from screens and towards empowering them. Here are five reasons why I believe this approach is more effective:
1) It lets our kids learn from their mistakes. When weLimit screen time, we’re setting an arbitrary limit without giving our kids a chance to learn from their mistakes. By empowers children by giving them freedom (within limits), they can learn from their own mistakes and become better problem-solvers.
2) They become more independent. When we give our kids freedom within limits, they’re likely to become more independent in both personal and professional life domains. In fact, a study published in The Journal Of Experimental Child Psychology found that children who have greater autonomy are less likely to engage in problematic behaviors like alcohol and drug abuse or run away from home. [1]
3) They have fun AND learn! With freedom
What Prompted the Change
For years, I have been a prolific writer about how kids and screens are damaging our society and how we need to limit screen time for our children. I was motivated to write this way because I felt like I had experienced first-hand how screens were harming my daughter.
But over the past few years, I’ve been evolving in my thinking about screens and kids. I’ve come to believe that screens can be empowering for kids, if used appropriately. Here’s why:
1. Screens Can Teach Responsibility
The most obvious benefit of screens is that they teach responsibility. Kids learn how to manage their time by using screens as tools. They learn how to set boundaries and limits, and how to be productive when they’re on their devices. This can be especially important when it comes to getting good grades in school, since many students today are struggling with academic stress due to inadequate sleep and too much screen time (according to The Atlantic).
2. Screens Can Help Kids Build Skills
Another advantage of screens is that they can help kids build skills. Many young people today lack basic life skills, such as cooking or cleaning up after themselves. But by using screens, kids can develop important skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication, relaxation techniques, and more (according to the website MomsTeam). For example, my daughter learned how to make a cake from scratch using an online recipe platform – something she would never have been able to do if
The Benefits of Refocusing My Writing
When I first started writing about kids and screens, I was very focused on limiting their exposure to screens. I believed that if we could just get them off devices, they would be better off. But as I learned more about the research and studies on screen use, I realized that this wasn’t true. In fact, limiting screen time actually has negative consequences for children.
One of the biggest benefits of refocusing my writing is that I’ve been able to change the conversation around screen time. Instead of talking about how much screen time kids should have, I’m now focused on how to best use screens in a positive way. This has led to more discussions with parents and kids about what’s appropriate and what’s not.
Another benefit is that my readership has grown exponentially since I shifted my focus away from kid and screens. Instead of only seeing articles about how to limit screen time, now people are reading about how to best use screens for learning and growing. This isn’t just beneficial for me as an author; it’s also beneficial for kids who are getting the education they need without being bogged down by screens
How to Shift from a Limiting Perspective to an Empowering One
So how did I go from writing about kids and screens to being someone who is more empowered by their use? It started with recognizing my own limitations.
When I started writing about kids and screens, I had a lot of opinions and was very judgmental. For example, I would say that all kids are addicted to screens and that they’re ruining their lives. But as I looked at my own life, I realized that wasn’t really true. In fact, I was using screens myself!
So instead of trying to tell people what to do or how to live their lives, I decided to listen to them and learn what made them happy. And surprisingly enough, it turns out that a lot of the things we used to think were bad for kids were actually good for them! For example, spending time outdoors—even if it’s just for a little while—can help kids build muscle memory and improve their vision. Plus, spending time with family is important no matter what age you are.
After learning these things, it became easier for me to see the benefits of using screens in moderation. Sure, there are some downsides (like screen time interfering with sleep), but overall I feel more connected to my kids and am less frustrated with their screen use now than when I was writing about it earlier in my career.
Conclusion
Writing about kids and screens has been a mainstay in my career for over a decade. I’ve written countless articles, blog posts, and tweets extolling the virtues of screen time for children and parents alike. But after spending more time with my own children and realizing just how damaging screens can be, I shifted gears dramatically last year and began writing about limiting screen time instead. In the process of rewriting my entire body of work on this topic, I came to realize that what had formerly seemed like commonsense advice was actually quite limited. By focusing only on restricting screen time, we run the risk of creating generations of kids who are deprived (and therefore resentful) of important emotional & cognitive development opportunities. So instead of preaching abstinence, which is largely ineffective & potentially harmful, I’m advocating for a more nuanced approach to limiting screen time – one that takes into account each child’s unique strengths & weaknesses.
