Screen Time: Finding a Healthy Balance for Children

“I’m so bored! There’s nothing to do!”

Sound familiar? Especially during long summer days, relying on screens can feel like an easy solution. And while technology is part of everyday life, finding the right balance is key to supporting your child’s growth and well-being. At our Learning Care schools, we focus on helping children build active bodies and active minds—and that includes thoughtful, developmentally appropriate use of screens with an educational focus.

Why Screen Time Matters

Research shows too much screen time can impact a child’s development. Higher levels of screen use have been linked to reduced physical activity, sleep challenges, and difficulties with attention and social skills. For young children, real-world experiences, such as talking, playing, and exploring, are especially important. Experts emphasize that children learn best through hands-on interaction and meaningful connections with others, not through screens alone.

How Much Screen Time is Recommended?

General guidelines vary by age, but most experts agree on the following goals:

• Under 18 months: Avoid screens (except video chatting)
• Ages 2 to 5: Limit to about one hour per day of high-quality content
• Ages 5 and up: Keep screen use balanced with sleep, play, and family time

Today, the focus is not just on usage time alone—but also on quality inputs and how screens are used in general. Watching together, talking about the content, and choosing educational programs can make a big difference.

What We Do in the Classroom

Summertime is meant for fun, and Learning Care classrooms are full of it! Each week, children are engaging in new themes that keep learning exciting. Our teachers prioritize hands-on, play-based learning to spark curiosity, wonder, and imagination. Children spend their days:

• Independently exploring learning centers
• Engaging in creative play and problem-solving
• Building relationships through conversation and collaboration
• Moving their bodies both indoors and outdoors

Our goal is to create a balanced learning environment where children are active, social, curious, and engaged. Using guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Education Technology, Learning Care schools align our mission with these four guiding principles:

1. When used appropriately, technology can be a tool for learning.
2. Technology should be used to increase access to learning opportunities for all children.
3. Technology may be used to strengthen relationships among parents, families, early educators, and young children.
4. Technology is more effective for learning when adults and peers interact or co-view with young children.

Overall, we pride ourselves on leveraging technology in thoughtful ways to strengthen connections between students, families, our schools, and the greater community.

Tips for Managing Screen Time at Home

You don’t have to eliminate screens. Instead, aim for balance. Here are a few strategies:

• Set clear routines: Designate screen-free times such as meals or bedtime
• Choose quality content: Look for programs that are educational and age-appropriate
• Watch together: Talk about what your child is seeing and connect it to real life
• Offer alternatives: Keep easy activities ready (art supplies, outdoor games, sensory bins)
• Model healthy habits: Children learn from how adults use screens too

Experts also recommend making sure screens don’t replace important parts of the day, including proper sleep, regular physical activity, and meaningful family interaction. With a thoughtful approach, you can support your child’s development while still enjoying the flexibility that technology can offer.

Additional Reading

American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org):
Helping Kids Thrive in a Digital World

National Association for the Education of Young Children (naeyc.org):
Technology and Interactive Media