Not All Screen Time Is Equal:
What Neuroscience Says About Screens and Your Child's Brain
In our fast-paced digital age, screen time is nearly impossible to avoid. But as parents seeking to raise emotionally resilient and attentive children, it's important to understand: not all screen time is created equal.
Whether it's a quiet nature documentary or a flashy educational app, the type of media your child consumes can have vastly different effects on their developing brain. Here’s what neuroscience — and many family experiences — tell us about screen time and how to choose wisely.
Best for the Brain: No Screen Time
The most supportive environment for a child’s developing brain is one filled with calm, creative play — without screens. Activities like building with blocks, drawing, exploring nature, or imaginative play help children build:
- Self-regulation
- Attention span
- Emotional resilience
- Creative problem-solving
In these moments of play, the nervous system stays calm, and the brain develops crucial connections that form the foundation for lifelong learning and emotional health.
Second Best: Gentle, Slow-Paced Shows
If you do incorporate screen time, opt for slow and gentle content that doesn’t overstimulate. Vintage shows like Little Bear, Franklin, Berenstain Bears or peaceful documentaries like Blue Planet or A Real Bugs Life are better choices.
These kinds of shows:
- Use slower pacing and softer music
- Support healthy dopamine rhythms
- Encourage observation and curiosity
- Calm the nervous system rather than overexcite it
Least Supportive: Touchscreen Apps & Fast-Paced Shows
Flashy cartoons, fast-cut YouTube videos, and many touchscreen “learning” apps are built to grab and hold attention through constant novelty and instant rewards. But this type of media can actually hinder healthy development by:
- Spiking dopamine in the brain
- Training the brain for constant stimulation
- Overwhelming the nervous system
- Leading to increased meltdowns, frustration, and dysregulation
As social psychologist Jonathan Haidt explains:
“TV puts out a story, but a touch screen is a behavioral training device. With a touchscreen, you get a stimulus, make a response, and then you get a reward... which makes you want to do it again and again. A touchscreen can train your child the way a circus trainer can train an animal.”
Gentle Screen Time = Calm Minds + Connected Families
The more stimulating the screen, the more dysregulated the child. But the reverse is also true: the gentler the media, the more peace you’ll see in your child — and in your home.
We can’t always eliminate screens, but we can choose what kind and how often. As Haidt also says: “If we really want to keep our children safe, we should delay their entry into the virtual world and send them out to play in the real world instead.”
So don’t feel guilty for using screens. Instead, be intentional with what kind of screen time your children are consuming. When in doubt, turn it off — and head outside to play, read a good book together, or build something with your hands.
Looking for summer reading suggestions? Check out our free Master Book List here!
Simple Takeaways for Parents
- Prioritize no screen time when possible — creative play is brain-building.
- Choose slow and gentle media over apps or fast-paced cartoons.
- Keep screen time limited and purposeful, especially during early childhood.
- Protect your child’s peace and development by tuning in to what truly nourishes their mind.
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