Another Option
What children gain when we reach for something other than a screen.
As a school administrator, teacher, and parent, I have become increasingly aware of the impact screen use is having on children—especially our youngest learners. Whether I’m at the grocery store, hockey practice, or an amusement park, I often notice young children with their attention fixed on an iPhone or iPad while they wait.
I believe that a modest amount of screen time each day is unlikely to be harmful for young children. When used intentionally, screens can offer meaningful benefits, including opportunities for learning, creativity, connection, and age-appropriate educational experiences. However, I am growing increasingly concerned about what happens when screen use becomes prolonged and routine.
When children spend extended periods of time on screens, their brains can become accustomed to constant, high levels of visual and auditory stimulation. Over time, this may make slower-paced activities feel less engaging. Children may become bored more quickly and struggle to sustain attention during tasks that require patience, persistence, or imagination.
Another concern I have as an educator is how frequently electronic devices are handed to children when they are upset, bored, or struggling with emotions. Tired of waiting at the doctor’s office? Here, take my phone. Bored at the grocery store? Here, take the iPad.
On the surface, these moments may seem harmless—and often, they are completely understandable. Parenting and caregiving are demanding, and sometimes a screen offers a quick solution. However, when a child has an opportunity to practice patience, cope with discomfort, or develop emotional regulation skills and is instead immediately redirected to a screen, we may unintentionally miss an opportunity to help them build those important capacities.
In classrooms, educators are noticing an increase in students who struggle to sustain attention during lessons. There has also been a rise in the number of children entering kindergarten, first, second, and even third grade without strong self-regulation skills (read more here). A small frustration—using too much glue on a project or another child taking the block they planned to use—can cause emotions to escalate from calm to overwhelmed in an instant.
I am not writing this to create alarm or shame. Rather, I hope to encourage parents, caregivers, nannies, teachers, and other adults to try something different before automatically handing a child a screen when they are bored, upset, or dysregulated.
There are countless activities that can engage young children, redirect their attention from boredom or difficult emotions, and simultaneously help them build important developmental skills. For example, a round of What’s Inside? can strengthen fine motor development and language skills. Playing the card game Go Fish encourages turn-taking, language reciprocity, and focus. Using a handheld water game helps strengthen the small muscles in a child’s hands—skills that become especially important when it is time to hold a crayon or pencil in kindergarten and beyond.
In this way, redirecting a child from a screen toward a hands-on activity does more than reduce screen time. It can also support the development of fine motor skills, gross motor coordination, speech and language abilities, attention, emotional regulation, and stamina for independent play.
The collection linked here is one I have developed over time and will continue to expand. Some activities are best suited for home because they are larger, louder, or messier, while others are perfect for travel, doctor’s offices, sibling practices, or restaurants.
We don't have to eliminate screens to help children develop these important skills—we simply need to create more opportunities to practice them. This month, I invite you to try the TIP for Tots Challenge. When your child is bored, encourage them to choose an activity from a prepared box or bag. When your child is upset, acknowledge their feelings and gently suggest an activity that may help them regulate and reset.
As a community, we can work together to TIP the balance toward helping children develop focus, stamina, patience, and emotional regulation rather than relying on the “quick fix” of a screen. It may feel like more work in the short term, but the long-term returns are well worth the investment.
Have a screen-free idea you’ve found to be highly engaging for your child? Comment below and share it with us. Together, we can help our kids build the skills they need to thrive.
For additional reading:
The Children and Screens Guide for Early Child Development and Media Use
Helping Kids Thrive in a Digital World
Screen Time and Children: How to Guide Your Child