PK through kindergarten
Mentorship is more effective than an outright ban when it comes to helping children learn to use screens responsibly. The best way to mentor is to integrate screens into activities you do together with your preschooler — while otherwise limiting their presence.
“The most striking correlation in the research on kids and media use is the relationship between screens and… sleep”
— Anya Kamenetz
Key Strategies
- Don’t ban screens altogether. Screens can be a valuable source of information, connection, and entertainment. If you ban them, you lose the opportunity to play the role of screen mentor, guiding them away from the bad and toward the good.
- Screen time that you do together with your child — Screens Together time — is nearly always good. Use screens to explore topics, watch movies, create your own media, communicate with loved ones, and watch high-quality educational TV.
- Otherwise, strive to keep life mostly screen free, especially before bed. Screens distract from the most important things children should be doing: playing, exploring, talking, and learning how to listen to and manage their emotions. Also, screens harm sleep. No screens for at least one hour before bedtime.
Additional Resources
Book: The Art of Screen Time, Anya Kamenetz
Screens Together