In today’s increasingly digital world, screen time for kids is on the rise. Toddlers and young children often have access to tablets, smartphones, and computers, making screens a big part of their daily lives. While technology offers opportunities for learning and connection, it also poses challenges. For parents, navigating this ever-evolving landscape can feel overwhelming.

Here’s the good news: by researching ways to make screen time intentional and enriching, you’re already taking a positive step! Whether you’re managing toddler screen time or looking for educational screen activities, it’s all about finding a balance that works for your family.

As the author of interactive speech sound eBooks designed to support language and speech development, I’ve thought deeply about how screens can benefit young learners. My goal has always been to create resources that are not just educational but also engaging, interactive, and mindful of how screen time is used.

In this post, we’ll...

• share expert screen time guidelines for toddlers and preschoolers
• highlight the potential risks of excessive screen time
• explore the benefits of screen time for children
• offer practical tips to make screen time intentional and enriching

Together, we’ll discover how to embrace technology in a way that supports your child’s growth—all while alleviating the guilt many parents feel about screen time. Let’s dive in!

Guidelines for Screen Time

Navigating screen time can feel overwhelming, but the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides helpful recommendations tailored to different ages. These guidelines focus on the quality of screen time over the quantity, ensuring a healthy balance for children.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the AAP’s screen time recommendations:

Children Under 18 Months: Limit Screen Use

For babies and toddlers, screen time should be limited to video chatting with a caregiver present. Think of using FaceTime to connect with family members who live far away. This provides valuable social interaction and strengthens those important relationships without the downsides of passive screen time.

Children 18 to 24 Months: Watch Together

If you introduce screens at this stage, focus on educational screen activities and watch together. Co-viewing enhances learning and ensures your child engages with the content meaningfully.

Children 2 to 5 Years: One Hour Limit

Preschoolers benefit from interactive, educational screen time capped at one hour per day. Look for high-quality programming that encourages learning and creativity. My speech sound eBooks fit perfectly here—they promote language skills and keep kids actively engaged with interactive prompts and audio features.

By following these guidelines, you’re setting the stage for a healthy, balanced relationship with technology.

Potential Risks of Screen Time 

While screens can offer fantastic learning opportunities, it’s important to understand and mitigate the potential risks of excessive or unmonitored screen time.

Physical Health Concerns: Too much time in front of screens can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, increasing the risk of childhood obesity and other health issues. Encourage active play, outdoor time, and family activities to keep your child moving.

Developmental Impacts: Excessive screen time can reduce opportunities for face-to-face interaction, which is critical for speech and language development. This is something I’m passionate about as an SLP and author—interactive activities like the ones in my eBooks can bridge the gap between screen time and real-world skill-building. Make time for those precious moments of conversation and play - they are irreplaceable!

Attention and Focus: Fast-paced digital content may affect a child’s ability to concentrate on non-screen activities. Balancing screen time with quieter activities, like reading or puzzles, can help develop focus.

Emotional and Behavioral Considerations: Unmonitored screen use has been linked to increased feelings of anxiety or frustration in children. Monitoring content and encouraging conversations about what they see online can help your child process their emotions and build resilience.

Being aware of these risks allows you to create a mindful approach to screen time, ensuring it supports your child’s development. Now let's look on the bright side. We'll focus on the positive effects of screen time next!

Benefits of Screen Time

When used intentionally, screens can offer wonderful benefits for toddlers and preschoolers. Here’s how technology can support your child’s growth:

Educational Content: Many programs and apps are designed specifically to support learning in areas like literacy, math, and science. High-quality content can make learning fun and engaging, helping your child grasp new concepts in a way that feels natural and exciting.

Creativity and Imagination: Apps for drawing, storytelling, and exploration can spark your child’s creativity and foster imaginative play.

Social Connections: Video calls and messaging apps help children maintain relationships with loved ones, providing opportunities for social interaction even from a distance.

Skill Development: Interactive games and eBooks enhance fine motor skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.

Fostering Independence: Technology allows children to explore topics of interest independently. Educational apps and programs can empower them to learn at their own pace, promoting curiosity and self-confidence.

By recognizing these benefits, you can feel more confident about incorporating screens into your child's routine in a meaningful way. The key is to balance screen time with other activities, ensuring that technology enhances rather than replaces real-world experiences. You're doing a fantastic job by being proactive and intentional in this journey!

Tips for Making Screen Time Intentional

To make screen time a meaningful part of your family’s routine, try these practical tips:

View Together and Engage: Use apps or watch programs together to encourage conversation and deepen your child’s understanding.

Choose High-Quality Content: Prioritize content that promotes language development, creativity, and critical thinking. My interactive speech sound eBooks are a great example of combining education with engagement!

Encourage Active Participation: Look for apps and activities that require your child to respond or create, turning passive screen time into active learning.

Integrate Screen Time with Real-World Activities: After watching a program, encourage your child to connect the experience to real life. For example, after exploring animals on-screen, go outside to look for birds or bugs.

Establish a Routine: Consistent screen time routines help set expectations and create a sense of balance.

With these strategies, you can ensure that screen time adds value to your child’s daily life.

Finding Balance

Screen time doesn’t have to be a source of stress or guilt. By focusing on quality, engaging content—like interactive eBooks designed to support speech and language—you can harness the benefits of technology while fostering a healthy balance.

Trust yourself as you navigate this ever-evolving digital landscape. With all of the informed decisions you are making, you're setting your child up for a bright and balanced future!

I’d love to hear from you: How do you approach screen time in your family? What’s worked well for you, and what challenges have you faced? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’re all in this together!

We'd love to hear your thoughts. How do you approach screen time in your home? Do you already use any of the strategies mentioned above? What are the biggest challenges? Share your tips and experiences below, and let's support each other in creating a positive and enriching environment for our little ones.

Cheering you on,
Shannon Rumpf, M.S. CCC-SLP
Play on Words Publishing