Health visitor Ruth Watts has highlighted the single most important moment for screen time: it should never be used to calm a dysregulated child. In an educational post shared with her 204,000 followers, she explained when screen time is appropriate and how parents can prevent addiction.
When screen time is appropriate
Ruth, a registered health visitor, admitted her family is quite "relaxed" about screen time but can be "incredibly strict" when necessary. She said her daughters, aged seven and eight, "will always choose imaginative, role-play, games, arts and crafts over using screen time, even though we are quite relaxed."
She noted that anything addictive or fast-paced, such as Roblox, YouTube, and KidsTube, is blocked in her household. She advised that for younger children, the "big screen" (a normal TV) is preferable to a small tablet, and encouraged shared viewing as "a shared experience rather than an isolated one."
Times to avoid screens
Ruth advised against using screens at meal times, close to bedtimes, or when a child is dysregulated. "They are not learning how to calm down," she said, calling this "a very vital missed opportunity of connection."
She acknowledged that screen time is sometimes used for convenience, such as when a parent needs to cook dinner, but stressed that babies, toddlers, and children "thrive on communication" and "social interaction with us," which should not be replaced by a TV.
Preventing addiction
Ruth explained that addictive apps give "really easy dopamine hits," making other activities seem boring by comparison. She reminded parents that they are "the adult" and must block access to certain sites.
She concluded: "You're the parent. Delete the apps, put the boundaries in place but just remember some screen time is okay."
