I have really struggled as a mom to find a good balance of screen time, especially in regards to TV. I am one who really enjoys TV shows and can get addicted to them and I fall into the trap of letting my kids watch shows and movies because it's easy. This is especially true in the winter.
On the flip side, I've gone to the other extreme of trying to keep all screen time from my kids and not doing any (I tend to do extremes, with my personality). While it is great to unplug at times, it's not realistic to expect to never use screens or watch anything and there are benefits of some screen time. Online, there's a stigma related to screen time that has caused me to feel guilty at times for any screen time my kids have had and that's something I've had to grow through.
Here is how we do screen time in our house.
We have a weekly movie night, with pizza, on Fridays. We usually watch a Disney movie, though sometimes we'll watch something like Avatar or Scooby Doo. This is a tradition we had growing up and I still have so many fond memories of that time we spent together. I have loved introducing it to my kids and it's become a special time we look forward to each week, where we can relax and snuggle together.
The other consistent screen time we have is in the mornings during breakfast, I turn on Signing Time for the girls, including Rylee. We started this when Rylee turned seven months old and I noticed she was beginning to love signs. I know that Signing Time taught both Ashtyn and Parker a lot of words when they were younger and signing really helped us with Parker before she could be more easily understood. I firmly believe that screen time should be limited, but that certain shows can really help teach kids different things in a way that they enjoy. We also really like Super Why (a show that is literally teaching Ashtyn how to read while also teaching Parker more letters), Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (a show all about how to accept and handle emotions in good ways), and Cat in the Hat (a show that teaches all sorts of different concepts). Ben has also recently started turning on different shows teaching about nature and animals at times.
I try not to put on shows much more than those two times, preferring to pull out books or send the kids outside or just play. This is way easier in the summer, because they really spend so much more time outside when it's warm. When it's cold and we're all in the house together all day long for so long, it gets a little harder.
The other thing we do at times is video games. Sometimes, Ben will play with the girls for a few minutes, turning on Super Smash Bros. or Let's Go Pikachu and they all have so much fun together playing those. We also love certain songs on YouTube that the girls love to dance to, or turning on Just Dance.
There are, of course, days or times when we don't do as well. If anyone is sick, we tend to turn to the TV more. When I'm having a really hard day (which are more rare in the summer) or really tired (like Saturday mornings), I'm more likely to turn on a show. There are times when I really need to shower and it hasn't happened, so I turn something on for the older girls to keep them occupied while I do that. These times are limited, though, and don't happen often.
I have definitely had times in my parenting journey where we've had too much screen time. These times were a season, though, and once I got through that time, I focused on eliminating or cutting down on screen time. I remind myself that a little educational screen time can actually be beneficial and that connecting with your kids is always a good thing, whether that's through a video game or something off screen. And in the winter, those dance songs literally save our nights sometimes.
It's really a hard thing to balance and something that is constantly on my mind. It's one of the biggest worries I have, as a parent. Can I teach my kids to be responsible with screen time? Can I find ways to help them balance it in their life while still giving them the skills to do it on their own when they're grown? Am I allowing them a childhood free from the stresses and distractions that screens can bring?
I hope so. Ben and I talk often about this and try to be very intentional about what we're doing with it. And I pray that I will have the guidance and help that I need as a mother to face this specific issue as my kids continue to grow older and we face all the many seasons of life.
