If you are coming to this article because you’re trying to find some reasons as to why screen time is good, you have come to the right place – we’ve got 10 of them.
I know what you may be thinking. “This is a page devoted to helping parents and caregivers limit their child’s screen time. Why now tout the benefits of screen time?”.
The answer to that question is “honesty”. We want to steer clear of fear-mongering and give our readers the most fact-based information available.
We also know that there is plenty of information out there about why limiting your child’s TV and tablet time is a good choice.
None of that information states that screens are inherently bad, though.
And the fact of the matter is that there are actually some pretty great reasons to allow some screen time for your kids.
So, let’s get into it and find out why screen time may not be the monster it’s been made out to be.
Why is screen time a good thing? – 10 reasons why screen time is good
If you are looking for screen time benefits so you can prove to your significant other that plopping your toddler in front of the TV for hours is good for them, you’re in the wrong place.
The research and recommendations just aren’t on your side. That doesn’t mean you don’t have grounds for a happy compromise, though.
Here’s what we can give you.
It can be educational
Not all screen time is fast-paced nonsense. There is a lot of good programming for kids out there, in fact.
In addition to the educational cartoons and kids’ shows you’ll find on TV, there are plenty of engaging nature shows, science videos, and live-action learning shows available for viewing.
It may help with speech development
I’m sure you’ve heard that excessive screen time can contribute to delayed speech development – and it’s true.
So, why, then, is speech development on this list?
You see, when you sit with your child to co-watch a show or when you play a cooperative tablet game, conversations ensue and opportunities for language learning present themselves.
It’s nothing like setting your toddler in front of a screen and walking away.
It encourages immediate family relationships
Screen time can take many forms. Screen time that is interactive, like certain tablet games, some TV shows, and many multi-player video games, can actually promote communication and cooperation among its users.
Letting your child play video games in moderation can actually improve their hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills, too.
It can encourage creativity and imagination
Imaginative play is how children make sense of the world around them. Exposing young children to a variety of situations increases the opportunity for them to engage in this critical type of play.
Giving your child some screen time, depending on what they view, can expose them to ideas and situations they otherwise will not encounter and can spark their imaginations.
A break for caregivers
Having a moment to sip coffee in peace or take a shower without worrying that your kids will get into something dangerous is important.
Parents and caregivers deserve a break just like any other worker.
Since there’s often no possibility of a proper break during the day for people caring for children, flipping on the TV or handing over the tablet can give caregivers a short period of respite.
Some TV shows can actually relax kids
Have you ever sat down in front of the TV and put on a show with which you can “zone out”?
There are actually a good number of shows that are designed to be soothing to children.
If you need an example of one of these relaxing TV shows, check out Puffin Rock.
TV can bring the arts into your home
It isn’t a developmentally appropriate expectation to think young children can still and keep quiet for the length of a ballet, orchestra performance, opera, or Broadway show.
Live performances can also get quite expensive the larger your crew gets.
There are plenty of ways to stream all sorts of live performances into your home these days, thankfully.
Since exposure to the arts is beneficial to a child’s development, this is a great argument for allowing some screen time.
Screens connect us (and our kids) to far away friends and family
Over the past few years, the world learned the importance of staying connected while being apart, and screens played a big role in this.
Screen time can help kids keep in touch with their grandparents, aunts and uncles, or friends they haven’t seen in a while.
Kids can access information easily using screens
With online dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other expert-owned websites, a whole world of information is at your child’s fingertips.
When kids have questions about something, there’s no need to wait for the next trip to the library. Everything they want to know can be accessed from a tablet, phone, or home computer.
Entertainment for the sake of entertainment is ok
Can you think of something that you do simply because you enjoy it? Something that isn’t particularly edifying, just entertaining.
Not everything our children do needs to be for some greater benefit. Kids deserve to sit back and be entertained sometimes, too.
There you have it, 10 reasons why screen time is good. Moderation, co-viewing, and being selective about what your child watching are key.
If you’re pro-screen time, is there anything you would add to this list? If you disagree with one of the points on this list, which one and why?
We’d love to hear from you, no matter which side of the screen time fence you are on!