To think current concerns over screen time is bordering hysteria

Agree, or claiming its screens or crying, like its a binary choice

Couldn't disagree more.

Kids managed to entertain themselves in the past without screens.

Play, reading, watching some TV (kids programmes were only available between around 3.30 to 5pm). Go outside and touch grass.

No wonder there are so many people these days struggling with 'concentration' issues. It's screen time.

My approach is to ensure my child has enough going on his little life that screen time is naturally limited by everything else we do with him.
One thing that annoys me is the "either playing out unsupervised or inside on screens" rhetoric. It's not either/or

I was a single parent of 2 with no screens. No SEND because it didn’t happen 20 years ago - but they had their own challenges. You have to teach your children to behave appropriately to allow you to get things done. If you just stick them on screens all the time how will they ever learn🤷‍♀️

it’s bloody hard being a single parent, easier with screens I’m sure but that doesn’t make it right

Absolutely. (Although private schools aren't absolved of the effects either, but less so).

Particularly when screens are used as babysitters like in the examples most people seem to think are an argument for screens. Screens can be great, but not the mindless scrolling on YouTube just to keep kids quiet. The damage of that is horrific.

My daughter is 17, the world wasn’t that different, social media was created before her birth, and all social media existed when she became a teen. No they didn’t have a tablet, but definitely watched a lot of cartoons, though were at nursery in the week so probably as not as some kids. My son especially was in a dream world zoned out when watching cartoons, but now works up in the city in a professional role, no issues from his excessive screen time. He also had a laptop from 8, which he was on a lot and PS4 - more so than my youngest.

Of course there are exceptions, kids with SEND using them for regulation come to mind

Though "they're regulating" has become something of a trope, opinions differ on this: https://thescreentimeconsultant.com/resources/essays/screensdonothelpchildrenregulate

I do find it somewhat hypocritical that we're all told that too much screen time is bad for kids, yet my kids school has them watching about 20 minutes of tv PER DAY then they're expected to go home and do "a minimum of 5 minutes" homework on an app, no other alternative provided. Then they have a cheeky to send emails about limiting screen time and try not to have the tv in before school as it effects the children. Make it make sense

Depends how much ? 🤷‍♀️

a toddler (under 3) should be having max of one hour per day. Plenty of time to cook dinner.

Useless to even comment. One of these eternal, never ending topics.
Is reading good for you

There was not hard empirical evidence that books or tv were damaging children's development. There is such evidence for screens.

You’re not going to win this debate here OP.
I wrote my dissertation on discourse around screens- there’s actually little to support the moral panic (negligible if you remove social media from equation). For every loudly publicised study that says screens are evil, there’s one, often not publicised at all that talks about causality being impossible to prove. Hence why when college of pediatrics released their screentime guidance few years back it focused on what there’s evidence for: make certain kids are active, that you have plenty meaningful interactions, avoid screens during meal times (because they can interfere with kids sensing their own satiety), avoid snacking while watching and aim for no screens 2h before bed.
What’s more interesting rewind to the introduction of TVs and it were exactly the same arguments rolled out. Rewind to the point when books became popular and easily accessible for everyone…and exactly the same arguments about health and collapse of civilisation were making rounds. Just ignore it and do your best for your kids whatever that looks like.:)

Sorry but using ASD as an excuse is not ok. I have 3 children with ASD and adhd all born within a year. This was pre tablets. There are 101 other things they can be doing.

What is the difference between a tablet and tv though? Considering you can use a tv like a tablet if you want. Is it the fact you can switch to something else the second you’re bored on a tablet more easily than you can on a tv? My DD watches Bluey on her tablet and on tv in the same way but maybe when she gets a bit older she’ll be more interested in switching between shows on a tablet 🤷‍♀️

You do realise there are huge swathes of the world where families can't afford electricity let alone a TV right? I never thought I'd hear people being called privileged for NOT using a TV!

My own mother in law was raised with no electricity and one of 8 kids! She must have been immensely privileged then!

Anyone who works in a state school will tell you that phones/tablets/gaming systems have been an absolute disaster for children's brains and their behaviour at school.

Agreed. I grew up in the late 80s/90s and as 4/5/6 year old clearly remember coming homing from school and being glued to the tv every afternoon till dinner time. CBBC, Blue Peter, Fun House, Neighbours & Home & Away! This isn’t a new thing (when they're not talking about excessive amounts anyway) I don’t remember watching much tv the rest of the time, my mum wasn’t in any way a lazy parent and did loads with me at other times but we both needed downtime- I probably needed some chill time after school and she needed to do housework & cook dinner (she was a single parent & worked while I was at school). I turned out ok, my brain didn’t turn to mush, I’m not lazy & I’ve got a successful career. I let my 5 yo do the same - an hour or so of screen time after school. You can also ensure your (younger) kids watch much far more educational & appropriate stuff than what we were stuck with. I’m sure Home & Away probably wasn’t that appropriate for a 5 year old. Parents need to stop being made to feel guilty about everything. That said, there is a lot of research to show it can be damaging for under 2s. I wasn’t letting my DD have this much screen time at that age

In victorian times they worried people (particularly women) were reading to much. And we turned our fine. In the 90s it was telly..

No I don’t, but my point was that “screens” is used as an all encompassing term to include TV, and those who are able to say “oh I’ve never even let my 3 year old SEE a TV let alone watch one” are not acknowledging the privilege that has allowed them to make that choice.

Tv is a bit different though you don’t carry with you 24/7. It is smartphones and tablets I worry about it

What aspect exactly of modern life mean screens are needed?

You don’t have a fire to clear out and light, the washing is done by the machine , modern hobs and cookers much safer than of old

busy? You may work outside the home more but you can get away with far less in the home. Microwaves , online shopping … compare making a broth 50 years ago - manual grating of all that veg, with use of a food processor or blender today

how we chose to spend our time and how we prioritise things , how much pressure we feel to do all that we see fed to us

How do you think people managed 40 years ago when few homes had computers?

Or 80 years ago when none had TVs?

As has been said umpteen times there's a vast difference between tv and using a tablet or phone ... look it up. You say yourself you don't let your dc use the phone

Agree; highly addictive and kids far too young and immature for all the information out there

Certain screen use harmful to their concentration levels. The toddler would be better off watching a film or CBeebies. If it's 4:30am you can stream something. Still a TV, still a screen, so not ideal, but you can choose what the toddler watches - be the best parent you can be.

Minecraft for the older child I don't have a problem with.