Critique all you like, Amy, but let’s face it: screen time is a lifesaver for parents everywhere.
We often hear the warnings: “Screen time is destroying our children! It’s ruining their futures! It’s making them lazy!” Older generations like to reminisce about their childhoods, claiming that they grew up without screens and emerged as perfectly well-adjusted individuals. (Oh, come on, boomers.) Today’s parents, however, know the reality: screen time can be an essential ally for busy moms and dads, and we wouldn’t want to navigate parenting without it.
Confession #1607623: “I refuse to feel guilty about how much screen time my kids have. We do plenty of other activities, and once the weather gets nice, we’ll be outside nonstop. Those judgmental moms can deal with it.”
Sometimes, we just need a few minutes (or, okay, a few hours) of peace to recharge without the constant barrage of little voices demanding our attention. Anyone who claims they don’t need this break at least occasionally is simply not being honest.
Confession #17539665: “My kids let me sleep until noon. They’re in elementary school. They know if I’m asleep, they can use electronics and snack. Win-win!”
Confession #1661943: “I totally have a wine hangover and completely threw the ‘one hour of screen time’ rule out the window!”
Confession #18904074: “I let my kids have unlimited screen time just so they’ll leave me alone. I am not exactly acing this mom life.”
Yes, judgment is inevitable… but life circumstances often lead to a shift in perspective. Parenting without screen time can be exhausting.
Confession #11349037: “I decided to go screen-free today, and I’m utterly drained! How do people manage to do anything or find any peace without screens?”
Confession #1635983: “I regret ever judging parents who let their kids game all day or use TV as a babysitter. I now see electronics as a blessing for keeping the kids calm and entertained. We have eight kids!”
Despite this, kids are doing just fine—so take that, critics. A study from the University of Michigan found that it’s not the amount of screen time that matters, but rather how children are engaging with it. Active screen time, such as games that require physical or cognitive engagement, doesn’t carry the same negative consequences that all the fussing moms love to complain about.
Confession #15897164: “My daughters are sweet, polite, and well-behaved, and you think I’m a bad mom for not limiting their screen time? Guess what? I don’t care!”
Confession #13271055: “My kids have always had unrestricted screen time, own their own tablets, and have free reign over them. My 10-year-old daughter is now developing apps in her spare time, and my 5-year-old son reads first-grade chapter books. So, sorry critics, but I must be doing something right.”
Confession #13261492: “I’m tired of other moms judging me for how much screen time I allow my daughter. She consistently ranks first in her grade and is kind and sweet. If anything, her vocabulary and general knowledge are better than her peers because of the computer!”
It’s easy to preach about no screen time when you’re not the one with kids at home all day.
Confession #15282579: “I absolutely despise when my husband enforces a ‘no screen time’ rule, then goes to work, leaving me to either ignore the rule to get things done or comply and entertain the kids all day. I always choose option A.”
When we’re free from judgment, it’s game on.
Confession #1784918: “I chuckled when I saw the AAP finally updated its ‘screen time’ guidelines. As if we aren’t all letting our kids watch whatever will help us survive the day.”
Confession #1772357: “I run a ‘screen-free’ daycare, which really just means no screens during drop-off or pick-up times. The rest of the time? Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is fair game.”
Of course, we’d never admit this anywhere but in The Confessional. Especially not to anyone who could actually judge us, like a pediatrician.
Confession #17530934: “My neighbor is a pediatrician, and her 10-year-old is on a screen ALL. THE. TIME. So much for APA recommendations.”
Even when we aim to limit our kids’ screen time, it’s tough to practice what we preach.
Confession #1769658: “I tell my kids no electronics and to use their imagination while I’m glued to my phone. Total mom fail.”
Confession #1616928: “I spend way too much time on my phone in front of my kids while strictly limiting their screen time.”
Confession #19264507: “Now my iPhone tracks my daily screen time. Well, isn’t that just fantastic?”
In this case, the saying “do as I say, not as I do” definitely rings true. But at least it gives us a few moments—or hours—of tranquility.
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Summary:
In a candid confession, parents defend their children’s screen time, emphasizing that it serves as a necessary tool for peace and productivity in busy households. While societal judgment persists, many parents reveal their own struggles and the benefits of screen time, highlighting that quality of engagement matters more than quantity.