Hi everyone,
I am a mom of a 2-year-old boy and I am struggling to manage his screen time. With the pandemic, we have been spending a lot more time inside and it seems like the only thing that can keep my son occupied is the tablet. While I know it's not ideal, it's been hard to say no when I need a break or time to get some work done.
However, I want to make sure I am setting appropriate limits for his screen time, as I am aware it can have negative effects on his development. I also want to make sure he is engaging in other activities, such as playing outside or reading.
Does anyone have any tips or strategies for managing a toddler's screen time? I would love to hear from other parents who have gone through the same thing. Thank you in advance for your help!

Hey there,
As a parent of a 5-year-old daughter, we have tried different screen time routines over the years. One of the most successful strategies we have been using is setting boundaries while still making screen time educational.
We limit my daughter's screen time to about an hour and split it into two 30-minute intervals during the day. During this time, she engages in activities that are interactive and educational, such as playing educational games or watching science and history documentaries.
We also make sure we engage with her while she is watching or playing, asking what she learned, summarizing the concepts or ideas, and asking how she could apply them in the real world. This way, we're not just allowing screen time as a distraction but are using it as a tool to promote learning and development.
Other things we do to manage screen time is to restrict weekend usage by allowing one-hour per day only, making the meeting room a tech-free zone, using an app manager to monitor usage throughout the day and setting passwords for certain apps.
Ultimately, managing screen time is a balancing act, and every family needs to find what works best for them. Creating straightforward rules and boundaries around screen time and making sure it's always educational and interactive can go a long way to achieve this.