Screen Time in Children: What Happened When We Broke the Rules Just a Little
Thirty Minutes of Screen Time a Day, Might Just be Okay
All new parents have heard the guidelines. Some are super strict and don't allow any screen time at all, others have their TV on in the background all day. I like to think we’ve found a healthy balance.
According to the Australian Department of Health:
"Sedentary screen time during early childhood can have long-term impacts on a child’s development. We recommend no screen time for children under 2 years."
I’d never heard this information before I had my son.
When I was a child under two, my parents ran a small hotel with my grandfather. They would leave me sitting in a pram watching TV in one room while they cleaned the room next door, and I turned out okay… mostly.
We had the TV playing in the background a lot when our son was a newborn. As he got older and became more aware of what was going on around him, we stopped having the TV on when he was awake.
However, we do allow him to watch The Wiggles for 30 minutes at the end of the day before bed, and I think it might be doing him more good than harm.
Now I constantly have a Wiggles song, or rather, one line from a Wiggles song, playing on repeat in my head. I remember once during our early Wiggles phase, I just couldn’t help myself. I had to sing the current song that was stuck in my mind.
So I sang:
“Do the monkey.”
Then out of nowhere, my son responded:
“Oh ah oh ah.”
Which is pretty close to the next line in The Monkey Dance song.
It was then that I realised he wasn’t just staring at the screen for half an hour, he was taking it in, remembering it, and learning animal sounds like the monkey, tiger and elephant that are in that song.
Now he'll just randomly say "Wee wee gee," which is him singing Ooey, Ooey, Ooey Allergies! Or he'll say "Where's Johnny?" which is a line from We Love Baby Johnny.
We’ve become such a musical household.
I actually just got a call from my son’s daycare to say they couldn’t get him to sleep today. He was busy lying on his bed, singing songs, and not looking tired at all.
He wasn’t sleeping, but he was happy.
He loves to sing in the car. I’ll be driving along, in my own world, trying to decide where I’m going to get my next coffee.
Then all of a sudden, I’ll hear an aggressive “A!” from the back seat.
It always gives me a fright, but once I’m over the initial shock, I realise he’s singing The Wiggles ABC Alphabet Song.
I’ll yell “B!" back, and he follows with "C!"
He gets a bit lost around LMNOP, but who doesn't?
If we walk past a sign with writing on it, he’ll often point out the letters and tell me what they are. Sometimes he gets it wrong, but more often than not, he recognises the letters. This is once again mostly thanks to The Wiggles flashing the letters on the screen as they sing the alphabet song.
The other day, while we were out on our walk, he pointed excitedly across the road and mumbled something I couldn’t quite understand over the sound of the traffic.
Being the good mother that I am, I nodded and said “Yes.”
It was after the third time that he pointed and yelled that I realised he was pointing at the number 80 on a building across the road and saying “Eighty.”
I was stunned at first, trying to figure out what book we’d read that talks about the number 80. And then I remembered, The Wiggles have a song where they count in tens to 100 and flash the numbers up on the screen.
I was so proud of him in that moment.
A few weeks ago, I was worried I’d taken it too far. We’d both been sick, so there were a couple of days when we watched an extra 30 minutes of TV in the morning before nap time.
We were watching another show he likes, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, which I also consider to be an educational show, but with less singing.
Then he started asking for “Mickey Mouse” throughout the day. He was making me look bad in front of his father, and I found myself desperately trying to convince him we’d only watched it a few times.
I immediately stopped the extra TV during the day, and after a few days, he stopped asking for it.
The only thing I consider myself to be an expert in is making a good iced latte… which I pour from a bottle of espresso concentrate and top with ice and milk. I’m just speaking as someone with an 18-month-old who recognises the number 80, almost knows the alphabet off by heart and is a happy singing sensation. For us, a small amount of educational screen time each day has actually made our child’s life better.
About the Creator
Sandy Gillman
I’m a mum to a toddler, just trying to get through the day. I like to write about the ups and downs of parenting. I’m not afraid to tell it like it is. I hope you’ll find something here to laugh, relate to, and maybe even learn from.
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More stories from Sandy Gillman and writers in Families and other communities.
When Family Fights
Growing up, I often found myself caught in the middle of family conflicts. My parents had their share of disagreements, and as a child, I never fully understood why these arguments kept occurring. There were times when I wished for nothing more than to escape, to find peace away from the shouting and tension that seemed to consume our home. But as I grew older, I began to realize that these experiences, though painful, were shaping who I was becoming. In my early childhood, I would often hide in my room, trying to block out the sounds of raised voices. It felt like my entire world was spinning out of control. I loved both of my parents deeply, but watching them fight left me feeling torn. I had no idea how to fix things, and no one ever explained to me what was really happening. The confusion and hurt lingered, and I carried that weight with me every day. However, over time, I started to notice the way my parents would act after their arguments. There were moments of quiet reflection and, occasionally, a heartfelt apology. They would sit down together, discuss what went wrong, and work towards finding a solution. Slowly, I began to understand that conflict was not necessarily a bad thing—it was how it was resolved that mattered. One pivotal moment stands out in my memory. I was about ten years old, and my parents were having another argument. This time, instead of retreating to my room, I stayed in the living room, watching them from the corner of the room. As they argued, something shifted. My father, usually the more outspoken one, paused and looked at my mother. “I’m sorry,” he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. Can we talk about this?” It was the first time I saw my father admit he was wrong. It was the first time I saw him vulnerable. My mother, who had been upset, took a deep breath and nodded. They began to talk calmly, working through their differences. Watching them communicate in such a mature and respectful way left a lasting impression on me. It showed me that even in moments of conflict, it was possible to find resolution through understanding and empathy. As I grew older, I learned that family fights weren’t necessarily a sign of failure. They were an opportunity for growth. Every disagreement, every misunderstanding, had the potential to teach us something valuable. I began to see my parents as human beings, not just authority figures, and I understood that they, too, were navigating the complexities of life just like I was. I also realized that family fights were a reflection of love, in a way. When we care deeply about someone, we argue with them. We disagree because we want what’s best, and sometimes that leads to tension. But it’s in the aftermath of those fights that we learn the most about each other and about ourselves. The willingness to apologize, to forgive, and to move forward is what truly strengthens a family bond. As I entered my teenage years, I found myself in the midst of my own conflicts with my parents. I began to question everything—why did they always seem so strict? Why didn’t they understand me? It was during one particularly heated argument that I realized the cycle of conflict and resolution had come full circle. I wasn’t a child anymore, but a young adult, capable of making my own choices and forming my own opinions. I, too, had to learn the importance of communication, compromise, and forgiveness. That realization didn’t come easily, but it was a turning point in my relationship with my parents. I started to communicate more openly with them, expressing my thoughts and feelings in a way I never had before. And, in turn, they began to listen. It wasn’t always perfect, but the foundation of trust and understanding we had built over the years was strong enough to weather the storms that came our way. Now, as an adult, I look back on those family fights with a sense of gratitude. I may not have understood them at the time, but they played a crucial role in shaping my understanding of relationships. They taught me that conflict is inevitable, but resolution is a choice. They taught me that love is not about perfection; it’s about being able to navigate the ups and downs together. And they taught me that, in the end, it’s not the fights that matter—it’s how we come together afterward that defines us. In my own relationships now, I find myself applying the lessons I learned from my parents. When disagreements arise, I remind myself that they are an opportunity to grow, to understand the other person better, and to strengthen the bond we share. I no longer fear conflict, because I know it’s a natural part of life. What matters is how we choose to handle it. And so, looking back, I can see how those family fights shaped my childhood and helped me become the person I am today. They taught me resilience, communication, and the importance of love and forgiveness. The lessons I learned in those difficult moments have guided me through life’s challenges, and for that, I am truly grateful.
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For nearly a decade, the LGBTQIA Pride Flag rippled in the wind at Christopher Park, a kaleidoscope of color staked into the soil of America’s first national monument to LGBTQIA+ liberation. That flag came down this week. Federal officials, citing new guidance from the Trump Administration, silently lowered the rainbow flag from its pole across the street from the Stonewall Inn. The birthplace of the modern gay rights movement now flies only the United States flag.
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Comments (8)
Yea! I know. I heard of this saying many times - 'NO SCREENTIME FOR KIDS' Practically I know its difficult with the way the technology as been incorporated into our lives. But the kids without screen time have better growth and health and that's a fact. I would have love to seen your 'Proud Mama Face'
Some kids are just smart. He'd probably be getting a lot of this stuff even without the screen time. You've got yourself a brain box (watch out)
Supercute, inspiring & insightful!
Love your description , a great use of words. Thankyou for sharing
Hahah as always, your reads are always so relatable. Thanks for another sneek peak into your real life experience . Heheh @Sandy Gillman
It sounds like a great compromise with screen time.❤️
Great article 👏
Oh wow, The Wiggles sure is very educational for him. That's awesomeeee!