The Irony of Screen-Free Parenting

We run a website about parenting without screens. We have a Facebook community for parents who want to limit or nix screens in their children’s lives. The new online community forum about parenting screen-free extends the contradiction even further.

We are aware.

I promise we do have some self-awareness. We often think about the irony of a website about parenting screen-free and this post is here to address the insanity.

Screen-Time for Parents and Screen-Time for Kids Are Not the Same

As we have written before, part of our comfort with the model of encouraging the reduction of children’s screen-time through a website is that screen-time for parents and screen-time for children are not the same thing. Many of us parents are over the age of twenty-five. That means we have a fully developed prefrontal cortex. This part of the brains helps focus our attention and inhibit impulses. The internet requires a lot of impulse control (should I work or waste time on e-mail, videos or social networking?). Our brains are more capable of controlling our impulses and directing our attention towards a goal.

We can spot the fake news (usually). Children under the age of eight are said to be largely defenseless against advertising and identifying the motives of a writer or on-screen advertiser. This ability to think critically can be taught and it develops naturally as children’s thinking changes from logical and concrete to abstract and dualistic.

For these reasons, as a society, we understand that children are a protected group. We understand that timing is important (when they start school, when they drive, and when they move out). We don’t believe screens are inherently harmful. We do believe they take some maturity to navigate.

Technology is a Tool

We do our best to use technology as a tool. We aim to teach our children to use technology as a tool with an emphasis on top-down processing. This means that they will have an idea and use technology to help them reach their goal or create their vision.

Our website is an example of that. We do our best to promote active parenting in our community, but the internet is a great tool for reaching more people and helping like-minded parents and educators band together.

Research is on Our Side

If we haven’t convinced you that promoting screen-free parenting via a screen is a good idea yet(visit Tech-Wise Parenting Articles to be convinced), we promise that there is a growing body of research on our side. While screens are often targeted as problematic for child development, there are ways in which screens can be utilized to promote positive child development: specifically by reaching the parents.

A research study aimed at increasing children’s literacy targeted their parents via text messages by providing facts and tips. The parents who received the intervention engaged in more literacy activities with their children and this translated into gains in literacy for their children.

Our SPOIL system is based on this idea. We hope that by presenting and reminding parents and educators of alluring alternatives, we make it easier for them to choose and promote activities that are associated with positive child development.