Let me start by saying this loud and clear: I’m not one of those parents who will tell you your child should never watch TV or YouTube videos. Let’s be real — in today’s world, keeping kids completely screen-free feels close to impossible. Sometimes you need 10 minutes to finish cooking, take a shower, or just breathe. We’ve all been there. And anyone who says otherwise probably isn’t parenting a toddler in 2025.
That said, I do believe that when it starts, how much screen time and what kind of content they watch matters. A lot…
How early should screen time be introduced? 🎬
I’m no expert, but from my own experience I wouldn’t recommend any screen time before the age of one — unless you’re alone in a real emergency and need a quick distraction. At this stage, babies gain so much from exploring the world around them. A screen just can’t and shouldn’t compete with that. It’s also easier to keep them engaged with toys so I would avoid it unless really needed.
We introduced the TV and only certain videos after Gabriel turned one and only really when we needed it as a quick distraction for a couple of minutes. The goal is to have the least screen time possible as it doesn’t help them in their development at all.
Even now, with Gabriel nearing 3, we only really use screen time when other options are not working. What we do before jumping to the TV when we need to do something (like prepare dinner) is: one of us sits with him, pull out some toys, and start playing with him. After a few minutes, we explain, “Mummy / daddy needs to make dinner now, you keep playing with your cars, okay?” He usually stays engaged — not always, but most times. If it doesn’t work, we turn on the screen for a little while.
Other days, we involve him in whatever I’m doing — putting clothes out to dry, folding laundry, even sweeping. Toddlers love being helpers and feeling included.
Get Them Moving and Outside 🌍
One of our favourite habits is going outside twice a day — once in the morning before his nap and again in the afternoon after he wakes up on weekends. We also do this on most weekdays after picking him from nursery. We normally go to a park, the beach, a stroll, or even a local shopping centre (which here in Portugal normally have amazing play areas). The idea is to keep him moving, exploring, and burning that energy in healthy ways.
If getting outside isn’t always doable, we try creating playful spaces at home — a DIY obstacle course, a “cooking” station with safe utensils, or building a fort. The more we encourage movement and imagination, the less they’ll reach for a screen out of boredom.
Kids Do What We Do 🪞
You know this one already, but it’s worth repeating: our kids copy us. If they see us constantly scrolling or watching TV, that becomes normal for them too. So we try (not always perfectly) to model screen-light behaviour. That means reading books, playing a game, or even sitting on the floor to build a tower instead of always having background noise from a show.
What They Watch Matters đź“ş
When we do turn to screens, I’m really intentional about what Gabriel watches. There’s just so much content out there now — and not all of it is good. Even cartoons can have questionable messaging or overwhelming pacing.
So here’s what I recommend:
👉 Use YouTube Kids, and set your child’s age to filter the content.
👉 Create a pre-approved playlist of shows or videos you trust. This way, when you do need screen time, it’s simple and you’re not scrambling.
👉 Don’t let them scroll and choose themselves — it can quickly lead to meltdowns or them stumbling onto things that aren’t age-appropriate.
One show we love in our home is Bluey. It’s modern, sweet, and full of little life lessons that even I learn from sometimes.
A Word on Video Games 🎮
I’m not a fan of introducing video games early. I know they’re everywhere now, but I don’t believe toddlers need them — at all. There’s a time for that later, but during these early years, play, movement, and interaction are way more valuable than pressing buttons on a screen.
Final Thoughts đź’
So yes, screen time can be helpful — and even enjoyable — for both parent and child. But I believe it should be the exception, not the norm. It’s not a replacement for connection, exploration, or attention. It’s just a tool, a little helper, when we need a moment.
Use it wisely. Be intentional. And don’t beat yourself up if you need 15 minutes of peace and Bluey saves the day.
We’re all doing our best. ❤️