Unless you have a zero screen policy with your kids - which I can definitely recommend - the trick is to give them incredibly small doses and being consistent with it. My son is 6 and he is perfectly happy with 30 minutes once a week when his younger brother is taking his nap.
We tell him it’s not good for him, which is why we limit it. He occasionally complaints, but most of the time he is looking forward to the 30 mins, and will close the iPad on his own when the timer ends. Consistency is key.
Second advice is to not give them authority over what to watch. No YouTube. Spend some time curating what will be acceptable. In the first few years (we started allowing it when he was 3) they will watch anything. Just stay of the dopamine stuff!
It helps that we never have the tv on when they are awake. Break your own bad habits first - but that’s general parenting advice…
Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts. I had a chat with a friend with a 2 year old and he also underscores the importance of consistency. We already stay off the tv most of the time so hopefully that helps. Any recommendations for what to watch in the early years if not on YouTube? Thanks again.
We have (in Denmark) a lot of shows on our public broadcasting network DR, and similar for NRK (the Norwegian counterpart) that are meant for toddlers, many of which share these traits:
- Slow, meaning long scenes without cuts.
- Calm speaker narrating something happening in simple words and with repetition.
- Babies like to watch other babies, and toddlers other toddlers.
Go for older shows (90s, 2000s). Once they watch newer stuff which has a faster pace, it’s hard to get them to watch the oldies.
Once they get older (5+), I would recommend Stillwater on Apple TV.
We tell him it’s not good for him, which is why we limit it. He occasionally complaints, but most of the time he is looking forward to the 30 mins, and will close the iPad on his own when the timer ends. Consistency is key.
Second advice is to not give them authority over what to watch. No YouTube. Spend some time curating what will be acceptable. In the first few years (we started allowing it when he was 3) they will watch anything. Just stay of the dopamine stuff!
It helps that we never have the tv on when they are awake. Break your own bad habits first - but that’s general parenting advice…
Good luck to us all!