Do you still find it difficult to manage your kids’ screen time?

When our daughter Monica was around one and a half years old, my husband and I relied on gadgets and screen time to keep her entertained while we work, do chores, or simply rest. We continued to do so until we noticed the adverse effect on her. We’ve been through different stages: from vowing not to offer gadgets, to finally giving in because of circumstances, and then going back to eliminating gadget use because for us, that was – and still is – the best option.

There is no easy way to navigate parenthood in this age of technology. But over the years with zero to minimal gadget exposure, our now 8-year-old daughter has reaped the following benefits:

When we removed Monica’s gadget time, we noticed significant improvements in her physical development; she went back to being a lively and energetic kid. At two years old, she needed to explore and test boundaries. Instead of letting her watch videos, we ensured she had space to crawl, run, walk, and play. If space was a problem, we would put an effort to take her outside. These types of movement helped in her physical development.

I love that without screen dependency, Monica prefers outdoor play and enjoys being with friends. She has limitless energy and she rarely gets tired. I love that we can go to places with no signal, when we go camping for example, and she can still have fun with whatever nature provides.

Since Monica was not overstimulated with fast paced videos and games on the screen, she could easily fall asleep. I am strict about her getting enough sleep everyday; it’s because I noticed that when she has complete sleep, she would have the energy, would eat well, and would not have mood swings. We all know how vital sleep is for everyone, especially children.

I appreciate that this “rule” encourages her to be creative and find ways to play with minimal toys or resources. It’s really challenging to say “no” to gadgets, especially if we parents cannot really stay away from it – either for work or leisure. But seeing how Monica is growing up and developing makes all the “no” worth it.

When we saw negative changes in Monica’s behavior at two years old due to gadget use, we immediately removed all access to phone and iPad. It was one of our best parenting decisions ever!

We swapped screen time for reading and talking to her all day, which I think really helped. We loved giving and reading all sorts of board books to her: those that have pictures, textures, sounds, and so on. Monica grew up loving books – they acted as her own “gadgets” where she can get entertainment from.

Reading books has been her go-to when she’s bored, when we’re outside, when we’re travelling – she does this and all is right in the world again. Because of this, we also noticed how well she can express herself through writing. Her vocabulary gets better each day, and she could even write good stories at her age. All thanks to her minimal gadget exposure, her mind is exercised through both reading and writing.

Looking back, being strict about gadget usage has clearly benefited Monica’s brain development. She comprehends things easily, follows instructions without trouble, and has no cognitive or speech delays. She even excels in school and her concentration and focus on tasks are hardly in question.

Monica has always been a happy kid, never having trouble interacting with others. I think this is because less gadget exposure for her meant more real-life interactions.

She could get frustrated every now and then just like anybody, but she could easily snap out of it – with proper explanation and space to breathe, she could explain her emotion afterwards.

Another benefit I am happy about is she can process her thoughts and emotions very well. She never had any meltdowns and tantrums, because we really take time to talk to her and explain things to her. Similarly, she can communicate whatever she feels and thinks.

In today’s tech-driven world, I’m not saying Monica never uses technology. As she grows up, it’s becoming necessary for school, online socializing (especially during the pandemic), and general awareness. Note that we didn’t cut out TV completely; we preferred to have her watch TV instead of using a small, easily manipulated screen. We support gradually increasing her tech exposure. We’ve seen both the pros and cons, and we want to ensure she doesn’t become overly dependent until she’s older and can manage it herself.

If you think it’s impossible not to rely on gadgets, think about this: if adults have trouble handling what they see and read online, how much more challenging could it be for children whose brains are still developing?

For now, we’re really happy with how Monica is doing. I’m not a perfect parent—I spend plenty of time on technology myself—but if there’s one thing I recommend, it’s managing kids’ exposure to gadgets and the Internet. There are so many benefits you’ll be glad you managed your kids’ screen time early on.