Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 1 day ago
Parents Keep Their Almost-3-Year-Old Mostly Screen-Free, Despite the Strain
A couple is raising their almost-3-year-old son mostly without screens.
They had planned to delay screen use, and say he usually plays with blocks, cars and coloring books instead.
They make a few exceptions, including video calls with grandparents and some educational, news or cooking programs, as well as sports events.
The parents say they sometimes envy families whose children watch phones or tablets at restaurants, where screens can help children sit quietly.
They worry that a phone could become something their son keeps asking to use.
Unexpected daycare closures also test their approach: during a snowstorm, both parents worked from home while trying to keep their active toddler occupied.
He can entertain himself for only 10 to 15 minutes, making it difficult for them to work.
A couple says they have mostly kept their almost-3-year-old son away from screens, despite finding the approach difficult at times.
They allow video calls with his grandparents and some television, including educational or news programs in Dutch and cooking shows.
The parents say they sometimes envy families whose children sit quietly with screens at restaurants.
They worry that giving their son a phone as a distraction could lead him to keep asking to use it.
When day care closed during a snowstorm, the parents found it difficult to work while caring for him at home.
- Who
- Renate Flanagan and her husband, and their almost-3-year-old son.
- What
- The parents have mostly kept their son away from screens, with a few exceptions.
- When
- He is almost 3. The article also describes a snowstorm “this past winter.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- They wanted to delay screen time as long as possible and worry that their son might keep asking to use a phone if they give him one.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The couple discussed their parenting values and agreed to delay screen time as long as possible.
Their son started crawling.
Their son started walking.
A snowstorm closed day care for several days as roads and sidewalks were cleared.
- Child's age
- Almost 3
- Screen-time exceptions
- Video calls with grandparents and some television
- Crawling
- Started at 6 months
- Walking
- Started at 1 year
- Snowstorm closure
- Day care was closed for several days
What people are saying
Wow, what does that feel like?
We're not judging; we would love a peaceful dinner too.