If you’re a parent raising children in today’s climate, you’ve likely heard and contemplated the effects screen time may be having on your little ones. Studies suggest too much screen time can negatively affect cognitive development. Some mothers have noticed increased screen use contributed to problematic behavior. There are others who believe our children are showing signs of addiction when it comes to their iPads.
Still, a majority of parents have no plans to do away with screens entirely. For those who’d like to strike a balance, one mom has a solution.
Old shows may come with new behaviors.
Lauren Isler is a stay-at-home mom from Virginia, who runs the Instagram account @mamasandmesses. She went viral when she shared her screen time hack with millions of people. The trick was that Lauren introduced her children to the shows she watched as a young child. More than just a way to bond over shared interests, Lauren noticed some interesting behavioral changes after she replaced more modern shows with the older ones.
“I noticed he enjoyed them but didn’t need them,” Lauren wrote in the caption for the video. “We’d watch an episode or two and when it was time to turn it off he didn’t fight me or get upset, he just went back to playing!” The change in programming even affected her child’s sleep schedule for the better. He was sleeping longer and getting a better quality of sleep as well.
You may be wondering what’s the reason for this. The kids are still looking at screens. What’s the difference?
Well, Lauren theorizes that children’s shows from the ’90s have lower stimulation. The colors aren’t as saturated. The music is not as loud and repetitive. Even the dialogue is more … relaxed. Lauren says she and her children still enjoy Bluey, Ms. Rachel, and Disney movies. But for other parents looking to jump on this trend, she shared a list of shows and where you can watch them.
Lauren says these shows teach kids to be ‘good humans.’
The list included shows like Bear in the Big Blue House, Franklin, Arthur, Clifford, Magic School Bus, Dragon Tales, and Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, among others. Lauren told BuzzFeed that older shows also tend to promote a different type of message.
“I feel like shows from the ’90s were so wholesome and lighthearted,” Lauren said. “They taught kids how to be good humans, which is my biggest goal as a parent. More than being smart or athletic, I want my kids to know they are loved, and I think ’90s shows help enforce that.”
A child development specialist said screens can be one part of the puzzle, not a child’s go-to.
Child development specialist Dr. Siggie Cohen shared that it’s important for parents to engage with their children while they’re watching. Ask the kids what they believe will happen. Take note of what they’re naturally attracted to. For parents, Dr. Cohen advises not approaching screentime with fear. “Children need exposure to various forms of activity. The screen should not be their go-to for everything, but rather one piece of their life’s puzzle,” she explained.
“Parents should feel confident in setting clear boundaries regarding how much and even what their children are watching, but they should do so with a positive outlook on the media their children seek. Treating it with fear, panic, and stress may add to the strong temptation and even addictive behavior children feel toward it. … Screentime should be limited but not given a bad connotation. This way, when it is turned off, kids don’t feel it has been ‘robbed’ from them, but instead, it is over and done with, like all other activities, until next time.”
