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d about it – no fuss with turning it off.</li><li>I only have one rule about screen time: We don’t do it when we are out of the house – this includes in the car and at restaurants.</li></ul><p id="cddb">Those precious hours when my daughter is occupied with her cartoons or iPad are <b>my lifeline</b>.</p><p id="c2b8"><i>I’m not kidding you.</i></p><p id="92ce">I use those hours to get work done – checking emails, phone calls, writing on Medium etc. Other times it’s housework or literally just taking a shower.</p><h1 id="4aee">Is there a better way?</h1><p id="64d0">I don’t know. Perhaps just the old adage of <b>“you know best” as a parent.</b></p><p id="e9c7">I have had a few times in life when I can see my daughter is getting addicted. Usually because she will start to throw more tantrums when screen time ends. It’s those times that I’ve actively put her on a detox and have come up with other activities to focus on rather than the TV and iPad.</p><p id="2c46">It works for my family. And I’m ready to evolve it as needed as my daughter grows up too.</p><p id="e941"><b>I don’t feel bad about screen time</b>, no matter what some arbitrary guidelines say. And I don’t think you should feel bad about it either.</p><p id="3636">Remember that everything in moderation and balance is key. You as the parent are the best person to decide what that right balance is for your child and your family.</p><p id="ea02">It’s time to let go of the one-size fits all approach.</p><p id="48aa">With love, Megan</p><p id="7df0"><i>Are you a woman craving support from other women? I just launched a <b>Free Women’s Circle</b> every other Wednesday virtually on Zoom. Come join us:</i></p><div id="e2f0" class="link-block"> <a href="https://yourmoderncoach.com/circle"> <div> <div> <h2>Join our Free Women’s Circle — Megan Llorente | Your Modern Coach</h2> <div><h3>Feeling overwhelmed or discouraged? Come and share your challenges with other like-minded, down-to-earth and real…</h3></div> <div><p>yourmoderncoach.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro

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.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*dtSVosZ0QS8fYlQU)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="4a3e"><i>Other stories of mine:</i></p><div id="2d45" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/am-i-selfish-for-not-giving-my-daughter-a-sibling-9564b8f4d98f"> <div> <div> <h2>Am I Selfish for Not Giving My Daughter a Sibling?</h2> <div><h3>At least not yet</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*Q76gC0z7kMXK1BH4gN6TXQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="c457" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-to-be-a-full-time-mom-and-entrepreneur-and-not-go-crazy-646e24c26dab"> <div> <div> <h2>How to Be a Full-time Mom and Entrepreneur, and Not Go Crazy</h2> <div><h3>Being a full-time mom is a 24-hour job. Then add entrepreneurship which is at least a 12-hour job. How can you do it…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*ykCLHH2WFk93_U2q)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="480c"><i>Support my writing journey:</i></p><div id="687b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://meganllorente.medium.com/membership"> <div> <div> <h2>Join Medium with my referral link — Megan Llorente</h2> <div><h3>As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…</h3></div> <div><p>meganllorente.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*IdVMABliAmOKQ4YR)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

I’m Calling Bullshit on the Screen Time Limits for Kids

Do what’s best for your family, period.

Photo by Patricia Prudente on Unsplash

I’m done with feeling mom-guilt or mom-shame over screen time.

I know what the research says about screen time. I agree that we should be mindful about how much and what type of content our kids are exposed to on screens. And I wholeheartedly agree in setting boundaries about screen time.

But, if I’m to believe the scientific studies, my 3 year old daughter gets too much screen time by their standards.

Do I believe that she’s developmentally behind or somehow hindered by it though? Absolutely not. In fact, she’s surpassed many of her developmental milestones for her age already.

What these studies don’t take into account is that the mental health of the parents matters too. If I cut the amount of screen time for my daughter in half, as a full-time mom I would literally go crazy at home and have zero time to myself or to get anything done. A stressed out mama impacts my daughter tenfold.

My real example

Let me paint a picture of what screen time looks like in our family:

  • We wake up and have breakfast. My daughter gets to watch her favourite cartoons for an hour or two, which are usually Gabby’s Dollhouse, Paw Patrol or Peppa Pig.
  • We go about our day whether it’s kids classes or grocery shopping or some other activity.
  • In the afternoon/evening, she gets some iPad time which is usually some cooking or educational toddler games. Sometimes it’s more TV time for another hour or two.
  • I give her warnings about when screen time is going to end and 75% of the time she’s pretty good about it – no fuss with turning it off.
  • I only have one rule about screen time: We don’t do it when we are out of the house – this includes in the car and at restaurants.

Those precious hours when my daughter is occupied with her cartoons or iPad are my lifeline.

I’m not kidding you.

I use those hours to get work done – checking emails, phone calls, writing on Medium etc. Other times it’s housework or literally just taking a shower.

Is there a better way?

I don’t know. Perhaps just the old adage of “you know best” as a parent.

I have had a few times in life when I can see my daughter is getting addicted. Usually because she will start to throw more tantrums when screen time ends. It’s those times that I’ve actively put her on a detox and have come up with other activities to focus on rather than the TV and iPad.

It works for my family. And I’m ready to evolve it as needed as my daughter grows up too.

I don’t feel bad about screen time, no matter what some arbitrary guidelines say. And I don’t think you should feel bad about it either.

Remember that everything in moderation and balance is key. You as the parent are the best person to decide what that right balance is for your child and your family.

It’s time to let go of the one-size fits all approach.

With love, Megan

Are you a woman craving support from other women? I just launched a Free Women’s Circle every other Wednesday virtually on Zoom. Come join us:

Other stories of mine:

Support my writing journey:

Parenting
Children
Motherhood
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