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THREAD on BABIES & SCREENTIME.
Young mum I know texts me today. Her beloved babe is 4 mos old.
"Suzanne, I thought screens weren't good for babies. Why are there so many baby sensory videos on YouTube? My wee one loves them. I like seeing her smile. How much is okay for her?"
Young mum I know texts me today. Her beloved babe is 4 mos old.
"Suzanne, I thought screens weren't good for babies. Why are there so many baby sensory videos on YouTube? My wee one loves them. I like seeing her smile. How much is okay for her?"
2. I say "Well, the official guidance is that any screens for babies under 18 mos isn't good for them, especially if they are watching it alone, passively, and you aren't watching it with them, so that they get responsive interaction." https://www.unicef.org/parenting/child-development/babies-screen-time
3. She says, "So you mean the TV isn't communicating back with her? That's passive?"
I reply, "Yep. The baby doesn't have experiences of herself *in relation to* her world. She can end up zoned or over stimulated."
I add, "Glad for yr curiosity. This is scary stuff for parents."
I reply, "Yep. The baby doesn't have experiences of herself *in relation to* her world. She can end up zoned or over stimulated."
I add, "Glad for yr curiosity. This is scary stuff for parents."
4. I then add, "Do you want more or is that scary enough?" Smiley face emoticon to give her the choice to step in or back up...
Brave mum....She chooses more.
Internally, I celebrate her curiosity.
Brave mum....She chooses more.
Internally, I celebrate her curiosity.
5. I go on, "Well, screens are designed to give yr brain a dopamine hit. Brains love stimulation. They crave it. So screen time creates an addiction. It's like adults with a drug addiction. Once addicted you go into withdrawal without it. That's tough for all us - craving."
6. I wonder if I've said that softly enough. It is so scary for parents to think about this topic. Especlly parents who are tired and need a break. Especially in a pandemic.
But here's the thing: Even if it's scary, its still true. Screens are addictive. https://www.fatherly.com/health-science/screen-time-hurts-kids-dopamine-addiction/
But here's the thing: Even if it's scary, its still true. Screens are addictive. https://www.fatherly.com/health-science/screen-time-hurts-kids-dopamine-addiction/
7. Bless this brave mother. She replies "I wish I'd known this before, with my other children. I sat them in front of screens because I needed a break. I just didn't know any of this then. How can we tell other parents?"
Bless her courage. She doesn't get lost in shame & fear.
Bless her courage. She doesn't get lost in shame & fear.
8. She goes on: "It must be like when you have a fag or a drink of coffee? That quick hit feels great. But then, you are always chasing that feeling."
She goes on: "See when you know this stuff? You can't not think about it."
She goes on: "See when you know this stuff? You can't not think about it."
9. She goes on: "I don't know how to tell my friend, though. I've seen her toddler in so much distress, wanting the iPad, even hitting her mum. I thought it was because she takes it away, as a punishment for bad behaviour. But you mean she needs it. She's craving it. That's mad."
10. I think of her pal, tired & wanting a break & irritated at her child who is hitting her. I think of her child suffering painful cravings. I think of t producers of baby programmes who often choose not to know this stuff. I think of t courageous curiosity of my young friend.
11. I say, "Well, if you were happy for me to share some of this conversation, w/out identifying you, I could put it on Twitter. Some parents might then read it & benefit from your question?"
She says, "Of course, Suzanne. Thank you."
She says, "Of course, Suzanne. Thank you."
12/end. I think, "Thank me? Nah."
It is HER curiosity that made this possible.
It is HER ability not to beat herself up for what she didn't know earlier that made this possible.
It is HER voice I'm amplifying.
I leave t converstn humbled by her courage & her joy.
#Mums
It is HER curiosity that made this possible.
It is HER ability not to beat herself up for what she didn't know earlier that made this possible.
It is HER voice I'm amplifying.
I leave t converstn humbled by her courage & her joy.
#Mums
