Screens are all around us—in schools, medical offices, gas stations, and beyond. Parents face a constant struggle between allowing children to explore the digital world and ensuring they have a safe and healthy relationship with technology. 

Dr. Michael Rich, a child psychologist, media expert, and father of four, offers valuable insights into how parents can navigate the ever-evolving landscape of screen time. In this blog post, we’ll explore some key takeaways from Dr. Rich’s interview and learn how to make the most of screen time for kids!

Understanding the Prevalence of Screens

A recent study conducted by Lingokids found that 55% of children aged 2 to 8 are exposed to screens for 1 to 3 hours a day. 

With screens being almost unavoidable in our daily lives, the question arises: Can we truly evade screens, or is that impossible in today’s world?

Dr. Rich acknowledges that screens have become an integral part of our society. They are not just sources of entertainment but also tools for learning and work, especially after the pandemic when remote learning and working from home became the norm. Rather than avoiding screens, Dr. Rich suggests that we should strive to master them and use them as powerful educational tools.

Dr. Rich’s “Killer Bs”

Dr. Rich emphasizes three fundamental principles for parents:

• Be Mindful: Be conscious of when and where you and your children are using screens. Mindful screen use ensures that screens don’t distract you from important moments with your children.
• Be Balanced: Maintain a healthy balance between screen time and offline activities. Don’t just tell your kids to get off their video games while you’re staring at your phone—model balanced screen use.
• Be Present: When you’re with your child, be fully present. Put your phone down, turn off the laptop, and make memories together. Children look to their parents for guidance, and your behavior sets the example.

Quality Screen Time for Kids

Since screens are an integral part of modern life, how can parents ensure quality screen time for their children? 

Dr. Rich advises to engage with your child when introducing any device, platform, or application:

• Get curious about the digital space and let your child teach you about the games/app they want to interact with. 
• Model good screen behavior and mentor them in their digital activities. 
• Use screen time as a shared experience rather than a distraction.

Passive vs. Active Screen Time

Understanding the difference between passive and active screen time is crucial. Passive screen time involves one-way learning experiences, such as watching a video. On the other hand, active screen time allows for interaction and real-time learning, as it promotes problem-solving and social interaction.

Dr. Rich believes interactive screen time is richer for learning because it fosters feedback, interaction, conversation, and conflict resolution—all essential life skills.

When it comes to educational screen time, not all content is created equal. Dr. Rich advises parents to sit with their children, have a dialogue about the content, and ensure that it is genuinely educational and not merely a distraction.

Parental Engagement over Parental Control

Rather than relying solely on parental control features, Dr. Rich suggests that parents should focus on parental engagement. Engage with your child in a game, ask questions, and be curious about their interests. 

Show genuine interest in your child’s digital activities, which will foster communication and understanding.

Embracing screen time as a tool for learning, bonding, and entertainment, while maintaining a balanced and mindful approach, can help parents and children make the most of the digital world. 

By actively engaging with our children and being present in both their physical and digital spaces, we can ensure that screens become a positive and enriching part of their lives.

In the words of Dr. Michael Rich, “Enjoy your media and use them wisely.” 

More about Lingokids 

The Lingokids universe provides original, award-winning, interactive content for kids, transforming how kids can learn. Lingokids creates games, songs, podcasts, videos, and activities that blend educational subjects with modern life skills to spark curiosity, imagination, and success in school—and beyond!  

So, are you interested in learning more about how Lingokids helps families raise amazing kids? Download the app and check out more content on our YouTube channels!