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Original poster

To think current concerns over screen time is bordering hysteria

607 replies

Tiredboymum22 · 22/01/2026 13:31

I think it’s over the top.

If my kids didnt have screens, nothing would get done. I’m mostly solo parenting. Family can’t babysit, husband works late 6 days a week. Childcare costs are through the roof.

I have a 6-year-old with ASD and a very hyperactive toddler. Eldest is obsessed with numbers and Minecraft, uninterested in his little brother a lot of the time. Up at 4.30 am most mornings too. I give my toddler the tablet when I’m trying to cook or tidy up (once he’s done playing with his toys).

I am criticised by older members of my family and told I should let him “help me” cook. Sorry but no.

Now I’m seeing countless articles and comments about the harm of too much screen time, but I think people are missing a lot of nuance.

aibu?

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Slightyamusedandsilly · 22/01/2026 13:38

I believe it to a certain extent. I think TV on while kids are playing is fine. CBBD/Cebeebies etc. Or a Disney movie. Even some low stimulation games.

But hours of intense gaming? Definitely not good.

Sometimes it's a life saver. If they wake up super early for example and you don't want them roaming the house unsupervised. But once an adult is up, screens should be off.

Lmnop22 · 22/01/2026 13:38

MyHazelReader · 22/01/2026 13:33

It's backed up by research of the numerous harms.

How do you think people coped before they could give their kid a screen? Yet they did and society didn't collapse.

But societal pressures were different before screens. Fewer single parent families, fewer households with two full time working parents, no peer pressure to use screens from knowing they exist and what friends are doing….

They’re a useful tool to make realistic modern day family life more manageable

MiddleAgedDread · 22/01/2026 13:36

he wouldn't be obsessed with minecraft if he hadn't been introduced to it on a screen.....

Lmnop22 · 22/01/2026 13:36

I so agree with you. If I didn’t give my 6 and 2 year olds screen time as a single mother, I couldn’t cook dinner at all because there’s zero chance they would play nicely with toys together alone or help me cook.

Obviously there are limits but an hour of screen time so dinner can get cooked is so much better, in my opinion, than an easy oven cooked UPF dinner of pizza/nuggets etc because I am trying to mediate arguments or let my 2 year old “help”

tarheelbaby · 22/01/2026 13:35

I think there are two issues.
One is that spending loads of time on screens is bad for your eyes and kills your concentration span.
The other is that young people are often horrible to each other through devices so limiting screen time should limit young people's exposure to that/opportunity to bully others.
Moderation is the key. If your DCs are doing other things like reading and playing with 'dumb/analog' toys then a little bit of screen time is probably ok.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 22/01/2026 13:33

We have 3 adult dc. 3 spent ages online gaming. All in great jobs, lovely wives, girlfriends, children.

It’s like Luddism. I totally agree with you.

MyHazelReader · 22/01/2026 13:33

It's backed up by research of the numerous harms.

How do you think people coped before they could give their kid a screen? Yet they did and society didn't collapse.

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