0:01 are you struggling to find the right
0:03 balance when it comes to screen time for
0:04 your kids maybe you're wondering if
0:06 screens are helping or hurting or
0:08 feeling unsure about how much is too
0:10 much I'm Dr Mona Amin a board certified
0:12 pediatrician and Mom and today I'm
0:14 sharing my personal approach to screen
0:17 time with my preschooler and toddler how
0:18 I create balance why I set the
0:20 boundaries I do and how you can find
0:22 what works best for your family and if
0:23 you're new here hit that subscribe
0:25 button so you don't miss any videos that
0:26 help you navigate your child's health
0:29 development and behavior with confidence
0:41 the American Academy of Pediatrics or AE
0:43 provides helpful guidelines for screen
0:45 use based on children's age and your job
0:47 is to take those guidelines what I'm
0:50 telling you here today and make
0:51 guidelines and rules about screen time
0:53 that make sense for your family
0:55 respecting your child's development and
0:57 their physical and emotional health for
0:59 more on some of the science behind
1:01 screen time I recorded a few years ago
1:04 watch this video for me managing screen
1:06 time is all about balance screens are
1:08 just one part of our day and I try to
1:10 use them intentionally sometimes they're
1:11 a helpful tool whether it's to give me a
1:14 moment to recharge or to get things done
1:15 but I strive to balance screen time with
1:18 connection physical activity creativity
1:21 and family time as modern parents we fa
1:22 challenges that previous generations
1:25 didn't screens are now everywhere TVs
1:26 tablets and phones and while they bring
1:29 convenience they also require us to be
1:31 mindful of their impact on our kids
1:32 development behavior and overall
1:34 wellbeing the key is to create a plan
1:36 that works for your unique family and
1:37 ensures that screen time doesn't
1:40 interfere with Essentials like sleep
1:42 meals Child Development or family
1:44 connection I'm sharing my approach to
1:46 help you find what resonates and adapted
1:48 to your family's needs I also want to
1:50 acknowledge that for many neurodiverse
1:52 or autistic children screens can
1:53 actually serve as a source of Regulation
1:55 and comfort and perhaps you're in a
1:57 season where you're relying on screens
1:59 more than you'd like to because I've
2:00 been there too
2:01 take what you need from my
2:02 recommendations and leave what doesn't
2:05 fit above all just focus on reducing
2:06 digital use in a way that aligns with
2:09 your family's lifestyle and priorities
2:11 when my kids were under one and I can't
2:12 believe I have kids that are over one
2:15 now just time flies we kept screens off
2:16 limits except for video chats with
2:18 family because let's be real
2:20 grandparents need their FaceTime fix I
2:22 believe babies don't need screens they
2:24 thrive on real world interactions like
2:26 giggling during peek-a-boo or babbling
2:28 back to us this is a rule I'm actually
2:30 very inflexible about keep screens to a
2:32 video chatting under one now with my
2:34 younger child things got a little
2:35 trickier because their older sibling was
2:38 already watching TV we'd keep the baby
2:39 playing nearby with a caregiver or face
2:42 them away from the screen but honestly
2:44 if they caught a glimpse of Bluey while
2:46 Crawling by we didn't freak out it's
2:48 life with multiple kids and their eyes
2:50 are not going to melt off but we would
2:52 never sit our child in front of a screen
2:53 under the age of one because
2:55 developmentally it just doesn't make
2:57 sense once our kiddos were over one
3:00 here's how we approach screen time no
3:02 screens for my younger child unless her
3:03 older brother's home and watching as a
3:05 joint experience now this was a change
3:07 from our first child because we have
3:10 help now with our son we actually did
3:12 use screens more than with our daughter
3:14 because it was a pandemic we were both
3:15 working full-time we were exhausted and
3:18 we had no help so again recognize your
3:20 needs I'm not here to judge even so for
3:22 our son we kept it under an hour a day
3:24 between 1 to 2 years of age co-w
3:26 watching with siblings or me in the room
3:28 I make sure screens feel like a
3:30 connected experience not an is in one if
3:32 the TV is on it's usually while I'm
3:34 nearby maybe working in the room or
3:36 cooking in the kitchen so there's still
3:38 interaction and connection happening
3:40 you'll often find me singing along to
3:42 songs or tossing in a few questions like
3:44 what color is the truck sometimes I'll
3:46 even sit down and watch with them
3:47 especially with my toddler who's
3:49 developing her language skills the
3:50 screen becomes a tool for joint
3:52 attention we'll Point things out
3:53 together talk about what's happening and
3:55 turn it into an opportunity for Learning
3:57 and bonding it's all about making screen
4:00 time feel intentional and social
4:02 at home screen time is limited to the
4:04 big TV yes the kids do not have iPads
4:07 for regular use first this mimics how
4:08 screen time was consumed when I was
4:10 growing up back then screen time was a
4:11 communal activity families gathered
4:13 around the TV and it naturally
4:15 encouraged connection watching something
4:16 together on a big screen or even your
4:18 child feels more interactive and social
4:20 rather than isolating kids fighting over
4:22 what to watch because you're watching on
4:24 the big TV teach them about taking turns
4:26 choosing versus allowing them on their
4:29 own devices second small devices like
4:31 tablets and phones are designed to be
4:32 hyper personal and portable which can
4:34 make screen use harder to manage I know
4:36 all of us adults have been there it's
4:38 easy for kids to develop a habit of
4:40 watching in bed at the dinner table or
4:42 on the go which can interfere with
4:43 routines like sleep and family
4:45 Connection by sticking to a larger
4:46 screen screen time stays more
4:48 intentional it's not something they
4:50 carry around and use on impulse now if
4:52 you have a portable screen like an iPad
4:54 or a tablet and hold boundaries that's
4:56 great but just make sure you're mindful
4:59 of its use and also too much close work
5:01 like watching TV on a small device can
5:03 lead to myopia or nearsightedness
5:05 something I go over in this podcast
5:07 episode for meals typically no screens
5:09 at the table for us it's the perfect
5:11 time to chat about our day listen to our
5:12 favorite music talk about what we're
5:15 grateful for and engage with the kids as
5:17 parents who work and don't spend as much
5:18 time as an atome parent with our
5:20 children it's also a great opportunity
5:22 for connection also here's the thing
5:24 when kids are glued to a screen during
5:26 meals they're not tuned into to their
5:28 body's hunger or fullness CU suddenly
5:31 eating becomes a Mindless activity and
5:33 they might overeat undereat or just poke
5:34 at their food because they're too busy
5:37 watching a cartoon or a television show
5:39 meals are also a chance for kids to
5:40 discover the magic of food textures
5:42 flavors smells all the little sensory
5:44 details that help them build a healthy
5:46 relationship with eating screens turn
5:47 all that into background noise and
5:50 that's just too good an opportunity to
5:52 miss now sometimes we're watching a
5:53 sports game as a family and that is
5:55 intentional communal use as we're
5:57 watching TV while we eat and making it a
6:00 social experience at restaurants screens
6:03 are our last resort and we rarely use
6:05 them at restaurants or we use it if
6:06 other kids are watching in our group and
6:08 our kids are feeling left out and they
6:10 want to most of the time we keep at old
6:11 school walking around until the food
6:13 arrives or bringing fun activities like
6:15 coloring books or small toys just like
6:17 we did when we were kids when the food
6:19 arrives we focus on eating and enjoying
6:21 the meal together occasionally if our
6:23 children finish eating and my husband
6:25 and I are still enjoying dinner we might
6:27 let them watch something but that's the
6:29 exception and not the rule for us dining
6:31 out really is about connection
6:32 conversation and keeping the focus on
6:35 the experience and not the screen the
6:37 reason for this eating out or eating is
6:39 a social activity for us and we want to
6:41 encourage patience encourage boredom
6:43 because from boredom creativity can come
6:45 like the other day my son and I went to
6:47 dinner on our dinner date and we don't
6:49 have screens and we played air hockey
6:50 with a plastic lid we were just flicking
6:52 it back to each other while we waited
6:54 for our food it was so fun and no
6:57 screens were involved and we also don't
6:59 want our children to become Reliant or
7:01 expect that this is the norm when they
7:02 go out that the moment they sit down at
7:04 the table that they're getting a screen
7:06 like we said this is the exception not
7:08 the rule we also have a no screens in
7:09 bedrooms rule which means we do not have
7:12 any televisions in bedrooms no iPads in
7:14 bedrooms and plan to not allow this as
7:16 they get older to minimize use in spaces
7:19 of sleep now if our child is a teenager
7:21 and needs a screen for schoolwork we
7:23 will make exceptions to this rule no
7:25 screens on during play now if we're
7:27 playing with our children we don't have
7:28 the TV on in the background because it's
7:31 play time it's not not have the TV on
7:33 time occasionally we will have music on
7:35 that we enjoy as a family while we play
7:38 as well unlimited video chatting Grandma
7:39 calling awesome catching up with a
7:41 friend amazing we don't count this at
7:43 all towards screen time use because it's
7:44 intentional social and there's
7:46 reciprocity there's smiles there's
7:48 questions and there's interaction that
7:51 being said we as parents sometimes limit
7:53 video chatting because we end up being
7:55 the translator translating toddler or
7:56 preschooler talk to the grandparents or
7:58 family members or we're chasing around a
8:00 kid with with our phone and it's just
8:03 not an enjoyable experience for travel
8:04 on flights after one year of age we
8:06 allow our child to use a tablet but we
8:08 also bring other activities like card
8:10 games and toys Buckle toys for our
8:12 toddler our son has an iPad which is
8:14 locked away and it's his travel iPad and
8:16 we give him full use on flights he knows
8:18 this is the rule and loves having his
8:21 iPad on airplanes how we see it is we as
8:22 adults are eating snacks and watching
8:24 stuff on a plane so so can our child our
8:26 toddler can watch too but she's usually
8:28 too Wiggly to want to watch for so long
8:30 so we bring books and toys
8:32 for car rides we skip screens in the car
8:34 to keep things simple and old school why
8:36 because car rides are the perfect
8:38 opportunity for boredom creativity and
8:40 connection just like the good old days
8:41 instead of everyone zoned out on a
8:43 screen except the driver we make it a
8:45 chance to chat laugh and come up with
8:47 games like I spy looking at clouds and
8:49 figuring out what shapes they see or
8:51 counting how many red cars we see we
8:53 also love listening to audiobooks or
8:55 singing along to our favorite songs yes
8:57 even the toddler Classics that get stuck
8:59 in your head forever and we practice
9:01 turn taking my son picks a song I pick a
9:03 song my husband picks a song and it
9:05 really creates a connected
9:08 developmentally enriching environment
9:10 taking those car trips also screen use
9:12 in cars can lead to more emotion
9:14 sickness and less of a chance to nap so
9:17 we chat we sing and play and hope they
9:19 take a little snooze these moments turn
9:21 car rides into this amazing family time
9:23 where we're all engaged and present for
9:25 us car rides are more than just getting
9:27 from point A to point B and they're a
9:28 chance to connect create memories and
9:29 let imagin
9:32 Rome and I love watching my son let his
9:34 imagination run wild when he tries to
9:37 make shapes out of clouds it's a really
9:39 great way to turn boredom into
9:41 creativity on my son's preschool days we
9:43 don't do screens on school days unless
9:44 there is a sporting event to watch as a
9:47 family on weekends we're more flexible
9:49 about screen time we actually don't have
9:51 major rules or numbers if we're outside
9:52 and Physically Active we don't worry as
9:54 much about screen news sometimes we
9:56 watch a movie or a television show my
9:58 daughter will watch with my son on the
10:00 couch and we usually try to do a session
10:02 in the morning or the afternoon and
10:03 balance the rest with playtime or other
10:06 activities we spend a lot of time
10:08 Outdoors we spend a lot of time doing
10:10 physical activity which is why I don't
10:13 worry so much about an hour two hours 3
10:15 hours in the grand scheme of things when
10:17 we live a very healthy active Lifestyle
10:19 on sick days we treat this more like the
10:21 weekends flexibility is allowed here as
10:24 long as rest meals and other play
10:25 whatever they can do because they're
10:27 sick is possible because how I see it
10:29 when I'm sick I want to sleep and maybe
10:31 catch up on my favorite show another big
10:33 aspect for screen use is not just our
10:35 kids screen use but ours as well we put
10:37 our phones away during dinner time since
10:39 this is our protected time and also
10:41 during play occasionally we may look at
10:42 the phone especially if they're watching
10:45 their own TV show on the television but
10:47 we monitor our use to set an example for
10:49 our kids how I see it I want our
10:51 children to know that we value their
10:53 time and that we are there for them when
10:54 we are spending time with them that I'm
10:57 not distracted and that I'm not working
10:58 and then going back to them and not
11:00 really present and this can be really
11:02 hard for me as a as someone who has a
11:04 platform that's online my social media
11:06 channels YouTube podcasts all of that
11:08 but I notice when it's too much I notice
11:10 when I'm literally spending time more on
11:12 my phone than with my kids and I put the
11:14 phone away it's really an easy way to
11:17 model healthy screen use for your child
11:19 another big thing we do is watch for
11:21 Behavioral changes with screens when it
11:22 comes to screen use we do watch for the
11:25 following inability to transition after
11:27 the show or zoning out if our children
11:29 have meltdowns after programming we
11:31 would consider either changing the type
11:33 of programming or limiting the time my
11:35 son was more prone to this even as he
11:36 got older so it was important to be
11:38 clear about screentime boundaries if he
11:40 zoned out where I couldn't get his
11:42 attention or there's repetitive eye
11:44 blinking we also would take a break
11:45 these are all things I watch for with
11:48 screen use with my kids and as a
11:50 reminder as you're watching me on this
11:52 screen ironically if you're finding this
11:54 video helpful be sure to subscribe so
11:55 you can get more content like this on
11:58 child health development and behavior
12:00 setting boundar boundaries around screen
12:02 time can feel challenging but it's all
12:05 about Clarity consistency and following
12:09 through with your screen time Vision as
12:10 caregivers we Define our screen time
12:13 philosophy intention over default and
12:15 stick to it here are some relatable ways
12:16 we set boundaries and encourage
12:18 cooperation while also handling
12:21 meltdowns when they arise we incorporate
12:23 screen time into our routine but ensure
12:25 it's not the main focus of the day
12:27 screens are only allowed after Key
12:28 activities like outdoor play meals or
12:30 school work so they don't become the
12:33 first or only thing our kids turn to to
12:34 make Transition smoother when our son
12:37 was younger we used timers to set clear
12:39 limits letting my child know how much
12:41 time they have when the timer went off
12:43 he would help turn off the screen which
12:45 gave him a sense of ownership and
12:47 responsibility I also provide a
12:48 five-minute warning before screen time
12:50 ends to reduce surprise and make the
12:52 transition easier an example of what
12:54 this can look like when the timer goes
12:56 off hey the timer's off screen time's
12:58 over do you want to press the remote or
13:00 do you want me to this allows them some
13:02 sense of control after the boundary has
13:05 been set I generally prioritize
13:07 educational content or content that has
13:09 positive messaging so shows that teach
13:12 problem solving empathy kindness or
13:14 creativity are all great options while
13:16 we allow fun content like Spider-Man now
13:18 and then my kids are obsessed with
13:19 Spidey and his friends or bitey as my
13:22 todler calls it I aim for variety to
13:25 balance engagement over passive watching
13:26 kids are more likely to cooperate when
13:28 they feel involved in decisions I talk
13:30 to my preschooler about why we have
13:32 limits on screens and offer choices
13:35 within our boundaries for example do you
13:37 want to watch X or Y give them two
13:39 options and let them decide would you
13:42 like to watch for 20 minutes now or 20
13:44 minutes after lunch you set the duration
13:47 but let them decide we often say two
13:50 episodes or one episode instead of
13:52 minutes giving them a say empowers them
13:54 to make decisions and feel like they're
13:56 involved but you're still the boundary
13:59 Setter even with the best plans and
14:01 preparation meltdowns can still happen
14:02 when it's time to turn off that screen
14:05 trust me I've been there when they do I
14:07 remind myself that this is about big
14:09 emotions not manipulation I take that
14:12 deep breath keep my tone calm and steady
14:14 myself for the moment I validate their
14:16 feelings by saying something like I know
14:18 you really wanted to watch I love
14:20 watching this too but it's okay to feel
14:23 upset but it's time to turn off the TV
14:24 to give them that sense of control I'll
14:26 ask do you want to turn off the TV or
14:28 should I this small Choice can make a
14:29 big difference in how they handle the
14:31 transition once the screen is off I
14:33 quickly redirect their attention to
14:34 something engaging like playing with a
14:37 toy or going outside or starting another
14:39 favorite activity most importantly I
14:41 stay consistent once a limit is set I
14:42 don't backtrack this helps reinforce
14:44 that boundaries are non-negotiable and
14:46 teaches my child that even though
14:48 stopping screen time is hard the rules
14:50 are there for a reason to avoid
14:51 unnecessary struggles we also have a
14:53 clear schedule so my son may wake up and
14:55 we'll say hey we're going to have this
14:57 and you can watch your TV show after
14:59 lunch or after you wake up from your NE
15:00 app if they know when screen time will
15:02 happen they're less likely to beg or
15:04 argue for it at other times and we also
15:06 offer engaging other activities screen
15:08 fee activities that can fill the Gap
15:10 like crafts books outdoor play
15:12 activities so that they're not always
15:15 thinking about screens creating balanced
15:16 screen time rules involves considering
15:18 your child's development family needs
15:20 and overall well-being here's how to
15:22 craft an intentional approach start
15:25 early with intentional use before one
15:27 year avoid screens except for video
15:29 chats focusing on Independent play or
15:31 play with another sibling or play with a
15:33 caregiver one to two years c-watch
15:34 screens to Foster language and
15:36 connection using them as a tool for
15:38 development and not the rule set clear
15:40 boundaries screen free zones keep
15:41 screens out of the bedrooms meal time
15:43 and during play to promote mindfulness
15:46 and connection delay personal devices
15:48 avoid iPads until 3 to four years of age
15:50 sticking to communal screens like TVs
15:52 for social viewing even after that to
15:54 minimize dependence and protect visual
15:57 health prioritize quality content choose
15:58 educational and positive shows ofo
16:00 voiding overly stimulating programs with
16:02 bright colors and fast moving images
16:04 that can make transitions harder for
16:07 many children encourage cooperation use
16:09 timers and let kids help turn off
16:11 screens to build responsibility offer
16:13 choices like picking between two shows
16:16 or how much time and adapt to context be
16:18 flexible on sick days weekends or travel
16:20 balancing screens with other activities
16:22 like books or toys this is key to avoid
16:25 guilt around screen use model healthy
16:27 habits limit your own screen use during
16:28 meals and play time to set a POS
16:31 positive examples and set healthy
16:34 transitions use visual timers validate
16:36 feelings and redirect to engaging
16:38 activities if meltdowns occur and
16:40 incorporate it as part of a routine so
16:43 they know what to expect by being
16:45 intentional and consistent you can
16:47 balance screen use with your child's
16:49 development Health and Family connection
16:50 which to me are the important things
16:52 that screens can take away from but it
16:55 can also help to remove the guilt
16:56 because screens are a part of our life
16:58 and when you're balancing it with other
17:01 healthy activities using it for an hour
17:03 two sometimes 3 hours when that's not
17:06 the rule but it's the exception is okay
17:08 what are your go-to strategies for
17:10 managing screen time share your tips or
17:11 relatable screen time battles in the
17:13 comments below as a reminder I have a
17:15 team of medical and parenting
17:17 professionals answering questions if
17:19 this video gave you a new perspective or
17:20 just made you feel a little less alone
17:22 in the screen time struggle give it a
17:24 thumbs up share it with another parent
17:26 who needs it and hit that subscribe
17:28 button for more tips and tools to boost
17:30 your parent parenting confidence
17:32 parenting isn't perfect and neither is
17:34 screen time you're going to have moments
17:35 that e and flow but with a little
17:38 balance and intention you're doing great
17:39 stay informed stay empowered and I'll
17:42 catch you all next time on this screen
