What Counts As Screen Time Anyway?

Is There a Difference Between Devices and Activities?

• What: What Counts As Screen Time
• When: 6 months and up
• Why: Inquiring parents want to know
• Where: At home and away

I recently wrote about how much screen time my kids get. At ages nine, eleven, and thirteen, we find it hard to navigate what’s appropriate for their age and stage. But the bigger question has bugged me ever since they were toddlers. What counts as screen time?

The obvious answer is anything with a screen. So to avoid screen time entirely for infants and toddlers, they should never see a TV, a phone, a computer, or anything else electronic with a visual display. That’s laughable in this day and age. Does it count if they see the device turned on, but don’t use it? What about when I show them a photo on my phone, or have a Facetime call with family that lives far away?

Then let’s talk about older kids. My three kids, ages eight, eleven, and twelve, love their mp3 players. While these devices have tiny screen displays, I don’t count them as screen time at all. The screen only displays the name of the audiobook, song, or radio station, and doesn’t occupy much of their attention. They don’t spend their time staring at the display, only hooked up to their earbuds and doing other things with their hands and eyes. 

Two of my kids adore Epic Books and have the app on their tablets. Does that count the same as the video games they love to play? Surely learn more with language learning apps than watching another cartoon. And now that my kids have gotten older and started emailing and texting friends and family, do those screen-based activities count towards their time? Also, two of my kids complete a portion of their homework online. How much should that count towards their daily limit?

I wish a clearer formula existed. Between all the different ways we use technology these days, it doesn’t take long for two hours a day to add up. Is the two hours just meant for entertainment purposes, but not educational activities or communication? And how do we decide which category their activities fall into, when so much overlap exists?

Like almost everything to do with parenting, the professionals offer guidelines without getting into specifics. Each family must decide for themselves what does and does not count, if they choose to follow the recommendations. If you’ve got a formula that works for you and your kids, please let us know!