Since televisions became a part of almost every household in the 1950s, screens have become an increasingly large part of our lives, especially for children.
As we’ve moved from black-and-white TV sets to VCRs to smartphones and tablets, we’ve also shifted from cartoons available for limited hours each week to unlimited access to shows, movies, games, and, of course, social media. Kids have shifted with technology, now spending fewer hours riding bikes and playing baseball, and more hours on screens.
The generations that grew up amidst these changes are making an effort to counter them with their own kids.
Parents Feel Increasingly Disconnected With Their Kids
Technology can make us feel more connected than ever, able to reach across oceans with a single click. However, it may be interfering with our ability to connect with those closest (literally and figuratively) to us.
A new survey by Talker Research finds that Millennial and Gen Z parents think their kids’ screen time (an average of 4 hours per day) is making it harder to connect. In fact, they’re seeing many negative effects associated with excessive time on devices.
“Parents said they notice their kids are easily distracted (42%), get less physical activity (42%), can be irritable (34%), have trouble sleeping (30%) and disengage with people around them (30%).”
The correlation between increased screen time and decreased physical activity aligns with what experts observe. The CDC reported in late 2024 that among children who used screens for less than 2 hours per day, over 70% met the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity on most or all days. Among those who spend 4+ hours per day on devices, that drops to around half.
What Are We Doing About It?
Screens are really engaging. They offer lots of things to do, require almost no effort to set up, and are usually already in our pockets, if not in our hands.
For parents, this can make it very hard to pull kids away from something that requires time and energy to set up, mental engagement to participate, and cleanup afterward. However, parents are investing time to find activities that keep their kids off screens.
“The study revealed over half of parents (54%) try to encourage less screen time for their kids by providing them with more hands-on activities and outlets, like playing with toys (68%), helping around the home (66%) and coloring (66%). Other activities, like crafts (63%), reading (60%), building (44%) and STEM-based activities (42%) were also popular ways parents get their kids away from screens.”
While kids may resist getting started on these other activities, once they begin, screen-free time can be more rewarding and lead to greater self-confidence and lasting happiness that doesn’t turn into boredom the second the activity is over.
Parents Dream Of More Community Support
Many of these parents say they’re spending time searching for offline activities and wish there were more fun things to do in their communities.
They recall hands-on activities with their parents and say those memories are filled with happiness, creativity, satisfaction, and confidence. About 70% say they’ve tried to recreate those experiences with their own kids.
Most say they believe access to DIY workshops would be a good option and would boost positive outcomes for their children.
“Eighty-seven percent of parents believe doing DIY projects with their kids would help strengthen their bond, in addition to teaching patience (63%), expressing creativity (59%) and learning how to work better with others (56%).”
Parents also say they’re looking for more ways to get their kids outside (56%), engage them in creative pursuits (48%), and access more educational opportunities (39%).
The Struggle Is Multifaceted
It’s not just the pull of screens that makes it harder for parents to get their kids engaged in other activities. A 2017 report published in the Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation noted that unsafe streets and limited access to playgrounds are major barriers to physical activity for children, with fewer able to ride a bike or skateboard than just a few decades ago.
That report also cited parents’ long working hours and limited financial resources as factors, and in the near-decade since, prices have continued to rise, and wages have remained stagnant.
However, it’s clear that parents truly want these options for their kids. The next step is for our communities to work together to create opportunities.