Parents share their approach to the critical balance of screen time for their children.

Parenting is filled with endless decisions and few spark as much debate—or guilt—as the choice to introduce screens. At some point, nearly every parent wrestles with the same questions: Should we allow screen time? How much is too much? How do we protect our kids from the negative effects? As screens become increasingly omnipresent—in classrooms, social settings, and even toys—avoiding them altogether feels nearly impossible. The challenge now is less about if we use screens and more about how we use them intentionally.

In this piece, three parents share their honest perspectives on when and why they allow screen time, the boundaries they set, and how it impacts both their children and their own well-being. They also offer practical strategies for managing the potential downsides of screen use: from setting limits and choosing mindful content to encouraging boredom and promoting real-world connection. It’s a thoughtful look at the role of screens in modern parenting—where limits are important, but flexibility (and grace) matters too.

SNEHA SETHI DOOWA, 37

Co-Founder of Parent Connect Community, Bangkok

Mother to a 7-year-old and 5-year-old

When my husband and I first introduced screens to our children, it wasn’t primarily for entertainment—it was about creating some “downtime” amid the chaos, for both the kids and us as parents. Their high-energy play and constant need for engagement often led to meltdowns, leaving us mentally drained and, at times, frustrated with them. So, we made a conscious decision to set clear boundaries from the beginning. At home, screens are not allowed at the dinner table—unless there’s a special circumstance, like when the kids are sick, during birthday parties, or on playdates with other families when we all need a breather. When we’re traveling or visiting friends and family, we adapt. For us, the key is intention. We allow screen time while reinforcing our values—limiting duration, choosing educational content, and setting expectations in advance. I often talk to my kids beforehand, explaining that today’s screen time is situational, and tomorrow might be different. This kind of dialogue helps manage expectations and builds trust.

What truly matters is balance, not rigid rules. We’ve established a family agreement, not a list of strict dos and don’ts. We, as parents, also model this by maintaining our own boundaries. For example, no phones at the dinner table, as that time is dedicated to connecting with our kids. If there’s extra screen time over the weekend, we dial it back during the week. We prioritise outdoor time, unstructured play, and creative activities. When we do make exceptions, we involve our kids in the decision-making process. And surprisingly, they’re much more cooperative when they feel heard and included. One concern I often reflect on is how to help my children avoid becoming dependent on screens for instant gratification. This was a recent topic in Parent Connect, a community that supports parents in raising emotionally intelligent kids. Experts there emphasised that while technology can be a powerful educational tool, excessive use can erode a child’s ability to tolerate frustration—a critical skill for navigating life’s inevitable “high-effort, low-reward” situations. Screens, by offering low-effort and high-reward experiences, can make real-world challenges feel harder, leading to poor stress and conflict management in the teenage years, and strained parent-child relationships.

To address this, I’m gradually learning to embrace boredom as a necessary and even beneficial experience. We avoid fast-paced, overly stimulating content and instead seek out slower, meaningful media that fosters emotional growth and learning. Of course, this isn’t always easy. There are tantrums. And I often have to resist the urge to hand over a screen just to keep the peace. But I remind myself—and my kids—that it’s okay to be bored. I explain that boredom is how we “recharge the brain’s superpowers”—so just like superheroes need rest to regain their strength, so do they. Boredom nurtures creativity and imagination and helps set the expectation that the real world won’t always cater to instant pleasure.

I still feel the occasional mom guilt when screens go on, but I try to shift the focus toward open conversations. I talk to my kids about why we have screen time limits and how these boundaries reflect our family values. In the end, it’s not just about reducing screen time—it’s about fostering meaningful connections in a world overflowing with digital distractions.

SUMEET SETHI, 38

Head of Change Management, GoPomelo

Mother to a 2-year-old

Yes, we do offer screens to our daughter—though we try to avoid them as much as possible. That said, toddlers are master negotiators, and sometimes, screens do sneak into the routine more often than we’d like to admit.

We first introduced screen time when Kiana was around 14 months old. It’s more for a lazy weekend or when we really need to get some food into her. It does play out as a helpful pause for everyone.

If there were to be an “allowed content list,” it would include Bluey, Ms Rachel, and Puffin Rock. As a family, we all love Bluey—it’s all heart, sweet, and honestly enjoyable for the adults too. Kiana adores Ms Rachel, and while Puffin Rock is on our list, it rarely makes it onto the screen. Ever so often, we also enjoy Disney songs from classics like The Lion King,Moana, or Frozen.

There are definitely pros. Kids’ brains are like sponges, and we’ve seen Kiana pick up songs and speech patterns; Bluey offers many great ideas for family games. But the downsides are pretty evident too—mood swings, difficulty transitioning away from the screen, and occasional overstimulation, especially from faster-paced content. One thing we always do is make sure screen time is balanced with lots of outdoor play. Fresh air and movement help balance things out.

Our overall mindset around screen time is that everything comes down to balance. As long as our family is grounded and happy, and we’re being mindful about how and when screens are used, we feel comfortable with the occasional compromise.

NAVLEEN PHITHAKSINGHSAKUL, 38

Real Estate Agent

Mother to a 5-year-old

Let’s be real: screen time has become the third parent in many households—and mine is no exception.

My son was born right smack in the middle of the COVID era, just when he was supposed to be toddling off to nursery with paint on his cheeks and glitter in his hair. Instead? Schools were shut, and we found ourselves navigating “learning” from the living room. That’s when YouTube stepped in like a quirky babysitter. Cue Cocomelon and other educational gems that filled our home with songs about brushing teeth and ABCs. To their credit, the kindergarten did its best—sending over art supplies and running short online sessions to keep our little ones engaged in singing, cutting, sticking, and thinking. Sensory play came in delivery boxes, and our lounge became a makeshift classroom.

Fast-forward to today, and while we’re out of lockdown, screen time hasn’t entirely left the building. My son, a little Picasso in the making, now turns to YouTube to explore arts and crafts or to copy dance moves (because, let’s face it, some energy has to go somewhere). And while I sometimes cringe at the word “bored” the moment the screen goes black—even though we agreed on the timing—I remind myself: I introduced it, and it served a purpose. The guilt trip is real. Do I worry about his eyesight? Yep. Been there, done that—I wore glasses early on, so the concerns are legit. Do I worry about him not knowing how to entertain himself without tech? All the time. The meltdowns can be Oscar-worthy when I try to pry him away from the screen. But being an only child means he doesn’t always have a sibling to bounce off, and when I need to take an important call or wrap up work, sometimes the TV or iPad becomes my very necessary sidekick.

But then comes the YouTube rabbit hole. One video ends, and suddenly, we’re three swipes deep into something wildly inappropriate or just plain weird. As much as I ask helpers or family to monitor, they have their own lives and responsibilities. And my son? He’s very resourceful when it comes to the “Next Video” button.

Still, not all screen time is created equal. I do a little happy dance when he watches Bluey or Dr. Binocs (we love you, sneezing skeleton doctor!) because those shows actually teach life skills and facts. Even shows with kids canoeing in forests or going down epic slides have their charm. Blippi? A bit loud for my taste—but he’s in the rotation too. What I don’t love are those hyper-fast, overstimulating YouTube Shorts. I mean—jumping from city to city in a blink? We’re raising dreamers, sure, but let’s keep it on planet Earth.

But here’s the twist: I’ve also wondered if I cut off screen time too much, will he miss out? In a world where tech is second nature to kids, will he fall behind? Will he not be as tech-savvy as his peers? Finding that “Goldilocks” zone—not too much, not too little—is the real parenting puzzle. And honestly, I’m still figuring it out. Recently, at a Parent Connect forum, a group of us sat down to discuss this very tug-of-war with screen time. And you know what? It was incredibly refreshing to hear everyone’s different approaches. No judgment. Just shared strategies, support, and yes, solidarity. Because sometimes, you need the iPad. And that doesn’t make you a bad parent. It makes you a human one.

We’ve got to stop seeing screen time as this giant monster lurking in our homes. With the right content, a little balance, and a lot of honest conversation, we can learn to use it wisely—without the guilt trip.

So here’s to raising creative kids in a digital age—and finding comfort in knowing we’re all in this pixelated journey together.