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IN TODAY’S DIGITAL

AGE screens are a constant presence in our lives. From watching TV to using a smartphone or tablet, kids spend a significant amount of time in front of screens which can ultimately leads parents to wonder how much is too much. We asked Esther Huybreghts and Melissa Cash, the co-founders of award-winning digital toy app Pok Pok Playroom, how parents can encourage a healthy relationship with screens, make tech time more intentional, and at the end of the day, feel a little less guilty about Mini scrolling and clicking.

DO IT TOGETHER. “This lets you be more handson in managing their experience,” says Huybreghts. “If it’s an app, make sure they know how to interact with the content. Turn on the

Idevice’s parental guide like Guided Access on iPad/iPhone to make sure they don’t accidentally swipe out of the app and into something they shouldn’t be playing with. In an app like Pok Pok, you can give them a little tour of the different activities, exploring a few of them together to see which ones they’re most excited about. We recommend having a “debrief” afterwards. Take a few minutes to talk about what they’ve watched or done. If it’s TV, ask them what the story is about. If it’s an app, ask them to show you something new they have discovered. This sets a healthy base to communicate about screen time right from the start and will pay off big time when you are dealing with teenagers and their devices.

CATEGORIZE IT. “Split screen time into different categories: passive, active, independent, and collaborative. This will help you decide which types of screen time you’re most comfortable with and think about how you’d like to regulate it for your little one,” says Cash. “Passive doesn’t require your little one to do anything. Watching TV, including most YouTube channels, falls into this category. Active requires kids to interact in some way. Apps and games belong here. Within both categories (especially Active) you can have Independent and Collaborative screen time. Independent means that not only will kids enjoy it on their own, but it’s also possible for them to play successfully without help from a grown-up. Collaborative means that the experience is going to be intentionally enjoyed by you and your child, like watching a movie or exploring an app together. This adds a level of interaction and social-emo- tional connection, which is fantastic for your relationship with them.”

THINK BACK. “Something I always find comforting (and hope fellow parents do too) is that people once thought that reading books was actually “dangerous.” Every generation in history has had a taboo media that people freaked out about, thinking it would ruin people’s lives,” says Cash. “First, it was the telephone in the late 1800s. Then, the radio came along. The TV was even more terrifying and was accused of “hurting the patterns of family living.” When computers were invented, there was a wave of mass panic... you get my point. New technology is always scary, especially as a parent worrying about screwing up their child. It’s important to remember that the type of content is a lot more important than the device itself. Find content that you feel good about sharing with your child, and don’t dwell on the rest. We’re all just doing our best!”

SET BOUNDARIES. “We try to empower parents to set their own guidelines based on their own preferences and comfort levels. Communicate about screen time with your child. Is it a special treat they only get to have while traveling? Or, is it part of their daily lives? Is there a time limit? Why? Helping kids understand what is happening and why is a great way to set healthy boundaries and navigate playtime that you both feel good about,” Cash recommends.

TAILOR IT. “One of the most important things when it comes to content is making sure that it’s not over stimulating or dysregulating for kids— this will help transition away from it. Slow-paced animation and scenes are better than fast cuts for brain development. Sounds should be gentle, and not frantic or too loud,” Cash tells us. “Know that all screen time isn’t created equal. Passive screen time like YouTube or TV is different from active screen time such as playing with an age-appropriate app or FaceTiming with a loved one. There is a time and a place for both, but we always recommend active screen time where kids are encouraged to actively engage with the content in a meaningful way.”

LET IT INSPIRE. “My number one rule is that I want their screen time to inspire offline play, and open-ended apps and games tend to do that,” Huybreghts tells Mini. “They play with the Marble Machine in Pok Pok, then after screen time is over, they’re inspired to build their own marble run out of blocks and toilet paper rolls. They bring the stories they tell in Town and House with them to their playroom floor and continue them with their real toys— I love to see that.”

LET THEM EXPERIMENT. “Creativity and curiosity are the seeds that start all important life skills,” says Huybreghts. “By giving kids a space to experiment freely without punitive consequences, they feel safe to fail and try again, building confident kids with resilient minds that are able to think outside of the box. These are the kids shaping the next generation.”