FuzzyBit - blurring the blogs of the web I’ve read that children under two years of age should have no screen time. This includes computers, mobile devices such as mobile phones, tablets and touch devices, and of course TVs. I already keep Rea preoccupied with some books, and musical and various other toys when we’re not playing or outside. She’s picking up things fast and when she sees me on the laptop looking for activities to do with one year olds right away she wants online, too.
A little while ago, I turned my back for just a sec and she had picked herself up from the floor and stood up. Vi saw Rea standing in front of the laptop typing away with one hand while in the other was a remote control! We seldom used remote controls in front of her. Not only that but she somehow managed to load the source code for the webpage I was reading at the time. That’s my daughter.
The TV is on very little in our house so keeping her away from that screen is easy but otherwise electric life is all digital and online. She will look at the screen saver when it pops up or will want to tap on the mobile screen when I’m having Vi talk to Rea over mobile speakerphone.
So now what? Does childproofing the home include turning off all the screens in the house? I don’t think zero screen time is realistic. This is our culture now and this is the context she will learn her culture. Screen time needs to be structured and parental controls need to be part of childproofing.
Learning in a guided way what the screen is is the new literacy. It’s the new numeracy, too. The 3Rs have been replace by the 3Ws.