The framing in these conversations is off

And applies to so much more than tech

🛑Before someone brings it up: YES kids should go outside. YES kids should play independently. YES kids should have time to do nothing or be bored or contribute the household.

AND

🤯We would probably never say “kids should stop riding bikes and spend more time playing” or “kids should put down the book and get outside”

🔥Absolutely none of the “alternative” things is actually mutually exclusive with screen time.

🤔We can wish we used less screen time. We can dislike the amount of tech reliance in schools, homes, childcare centers, etc. But blaming the screen is putting all the onus back on individual caregivers who are not the ones who created this reality.

🎤If tech and screen (or ultra processed food) reliance is so important, then we need to target the systemic factors that necessitate the overreliance in the first place.