Publisher Letter: Screen Time and Family Time

by Laura Matanah

I have a confession to make. We have barely allowed our children to touch the computer for the last five months.

This summer we told them they could have screen time when it rained. Then we had a drought. The issue, though, isn’t exactly the time. It’s the feelings and attitudes. When the children were preschoolers, Rainbow Rumpus hadn’t even been thought of, we didn’t let them go on the computer, and we only watched videos when we did Tajah’s hair.

Once school began, we allowed them to watch public television after they’d gotten ready for school. (Getting ready was hard!) Then we said they could have a half hour in the afternoons. Before we knew it we found ourselves at an hour a day. Or rather, we found them having an hour a day. Without us. Because when the kids are watching a video, or on the computer, or playing video games, it’s amazing how much can get done. It’s like putting your children in storage.

Toward the end of last school year we felt that, although our children had about the same amount of time, or less, than many families we knew, that one hour of the day had come to dominate their lives. When could Tajah watch Hannah Montana? What would Hannah say, wear, or do? We really didn’t want Hannah as another family member.

And then there were the video games. Those nonviolent video games—skateboarding, racing—that had seemed so innocuous and delighted our son. They were all he could think about—literally. He lost interest in real skateboarding, in cooking, and spending time with us. All that mattered was playing them, and he resented our restrictions on content and time spent playing. So we finally said “no more,” and his attitude completely changed. He was once again friendly, considerate, and eager to play catch.

Now when we do have screen time, it’s family time. We sit down and read the Rainbow Rumpus stories together, or go to a movie at our local bargain theater, or cuddle up on the coach with a video and some popcorn. It’s a relief to have Hannah out of the house (on a daily basis, anyway). Mostly, though, it’s good to have our children back.