How This Simple Chart Made a Massive Difference in Our House

Focus on green time rather than screentime and watch your children thrive.

What I’m about to say might surprise you.

The last lockdown did not make my kids’ screentime soar.

Apart from a weekly school zoom, some hamfisted typing, and a few episodes of Horrible Histories, our kids didn’t follow the well-worn path of lockdown kids on screens you hear about in the media.

Instead, they played outside on our (shared) patch of grass, kicking a ball, playing tennis, and disrupting local worm families with tiny twigs.

Why parents suffer from screen guilt

Parents of every generation feel raising kids is more challenging than it was for their caregivers, with values changing along with society.

But we have been thrown a curveball; bringing up kids in a digital world is far from easy. Throw a pandemic in the mix, and watch parents struggle.

Considering 8–12-year-olds in the US spend between 4 to 6 hours on screens, childhood experts and pediatricians have growing concerns about how digital devices affect children’s development, sleep, and ability to focus.

With online articles telling us to watch children’s excessive screen time, it’s no wonder we feel guilty each time our child swipes.

Putting screentime in perspective

Technology changes rapidly, and so does the thinking on screen time. Professor Andrew Przybylski, Director of Research at the Oxford Internet Institute, says:

Screens allow for all kinds of different activities. What matters is not the screen, but what’s happening when children are in front of it.

Then the displacement theory means time spent online takes away from other activities, such as outdoor play, possibly resulting in weight gain or sleep loss.

How did this work for us?

While both insights give a good perspective, I feel the latter is key to my kids' thriving.

When you focus on what your child can attain rather than avoid, the sky is her limit. A sentiment echoed by Dr. Meghan Owenz, author and Assistant Professor at Penn State University:

‘“Parents can use positive goals to increase time spent on meaningful activities, which will edge out children’s screen time naturally,”

Our Chart

This chart has been a godsend for us, with our daughter meticulously tracking her green time.

It means she is motivated to play outside, loves it, and plays some more.

It has also saved us from the endless screen time tussle. Once they’ve soaked in a daily slice of sunshine, I’m happy for them to relax with a screen.

How to focus on green time rather than screentime

Try these three simple ideas:

• Download this tracker or similar.
• Give your children positive goals for activities not involving screens: reading outside, exercising, and outdoor play.
• Organize outdoor family activities.

Final thoughts

We are bringing up kids in an increasingly digital world. Technology brings many benefits while posing challenges to our children.

Online articles telling us to watch excessive screentime have made parents feel guilty without acknowledging the positive benefits content can provide.

Also, focusing on outdoor activities might edge out screentime naturally.

But don’t take my word for it. Instead, get your kids outside and watch them thrive, like mine.