BBC
Mother of two, Maddy Alexander-Grout, shares that she does not impose restrictions on her children’s screen time, yet believes they are not "addicted" to their devices.
Parents have been sharing their opinions on the newly issued government guidance regarding screen time for children under five in England. This guidance, marking the first of its kind, advises that children aged two to five should be limited to one hour of screen time per day. For those under the age of two, it is recommended that they should not engage with screens independently.
The guidance specifically advises avoiding screen use during mealtimes and in the hour leading up to bedtime. Instead, it promotes "screen swaps," which involve replacing screen time with shared reading sessions or family games.
Maddy, who hails from Southampton, expressed to Nicky Campbell on BBC Radio 5 Live that the government’s guidance on screen time should be "realistic." As a business owner and author suffering from fatigue due to Hashimoto's disease and fibromyalgia, she finds that screen time allows her to have moments of rest and recuperation. “If I didn’t have screen time for my kids, then I would never get anything done,” she stated. Although she does not explicitly limit her children’s screen time, she attributes this lack of restriction to their balanced relationship with technology, allowing them to enjoy outdoor activities like visits to the park or walks.
Maddy encourages educational content and games during screen time but is critical of certain types of material. She believes that some online videos are particularly detrimental, stating that such content "rots children's brains," and therefore, her children do not have access to that material.
Reflecting on her experiences when her children were younger, Maddy mentions that she was once the parent who vowed never to let her children have screens. However, she acknowledges that her circumstances led her to adjust this viewpoint. "You can’t continue just surviving when you need to clean the house and do some work," she explains. "Mums are not just the stereotypical caregivers who spend all their time with their kids anymore; that’s simply not how lives work today."
Nik Bannister, based in Leeds, expressed his concerns regarding the behavioral changes he observed in his now eight-year-old son, Josh, during his toddler years. Initially, Josh would watch programs designed for children, which Nik considered harmless, until he noticed troubling changes in Josh's behavior.
"Our home honestly felt like it was unravelling," he recounts. "Every time we turned screens off, it triggered full meltdowns. Anger, tears, constant arguments. He was restless, easily frustrated, and nothing seemed to hold his attention unless it was a screen." Nik points out that these cartoons and videos employ psychological tactics to capture children's attention, stating, “There’s a lot of deliberate dopamine spiking that’s causing addiction in young kids.”
As a result, Nik and his wife made the decision to significantly reduce Josh’s screen time, integrating regular games and activities, such as Lego, instead. Although the transition was challenging at first, he remarks, “It’s what you have to go through to see a change. If you stick with it, initially you’ll need to engage with them during the activities, but after a few days, you find their enjoyment returns, and they will independently pursue these activities.”
Diamond McGill, from Weymouth, shares her experience with her eldest son, who is now five. She highlights that her son was "very responsive" to screen time as a young child and was "not in a good way." During an interview with Radio 5 Live, she discusses how she initially reduced his screen time; however, upon starting school, he faced difficulties due to exposure to screens in that environment. "Even the interactive whiteboard is a screen," she notes, adding that her son struggled to adapt.
Reluctantly, she resumed increased screen time at home to assist with his adjustment, advising other parents to be mindful of the screen exposure their children experience at school. "Once they get to school, there’s an enormous number of things that children need to cope with," she explains. “Adjusting to screen time, especially if it has been severely limited, presents an additional challenge for them.”
Hannah Deez, from Warwickshire, expressed her intention to limit her children to "no or low" screen time, a goal she pursued after giving birth during the Covid lockdowns. Hannah reported success in achieving this objective, noting that her children have "barely seen a tablet," aside from occasional family movie nights and educational content online. As a family that values outdoor and creative activities, she found restricting screen time to be a "no-brainer." “We don’t own a tablet,” she shares. “From day one we’ve established boundaries regarding how we use the television and phones.” Due to this understanding, her children do not often request games or videos, as they recognize the expected response.
Hannah attributes part of the rising screen time among children to the aggressive marketing of apps and games aimed at young audiences. "I believe restrictions on advertising apps and screen time to kids would be highly beneficial,” she states. “Children are impressionable and learn best through face-to-face interactions with key caregivers—parents or teachers." While her children do experience some screen time, Hannah emphasizes a conscious approach to their viewing habits, ensuring that family viewing is a shared experience.
The government guidance acknowledges the varied nature of screen time and advocates for shared viewing whenever possible. Sam Webb, a father attending a music and movement class for parents and toddlers in Leeds, found resonance in this aspect of the guidance. He mentioned that when he watches programs with his three-year-old son, Francesco, they strive to ensure that the content is educational. Although Francesco's screen time occasionally exceeds the one-hour recommendation during wintry weekends, Sam argues that this need not be detrimental. "If it’s raining outside and we’re all tired and we need to rest, then we’ll watch some TV for that downtime," he states.
Leah Robinson, whose son Owen is also two, has observed the impacts of screen time on children's attention spans through her work in a school setting. However, she emphasizes that it is unfair to place the blame solely on parents. “Let’s face it, sometimes we’re absolutely exhausted, unwell, or for a variety of reasons, screen time will be utilized,” she remarks. “Let’s not overly demonize parents."
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