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Screens are taking up an increasingly important place in our daily lives. Smartphones, tablets, televisions, computers… they shape our days as much as those of children. Rather than viewing digital tools as an enemy, it is essential to learn how to live with screens in a balanced and guided way.
At KidsCare, we support families every day as they navigate these questions. Our educational approach emphasizes the child’s overall development, careful attention to fundamental needs, and a relationship of trust between parents, children, and professionals. Screens are now one of these shared realities that we must learn to navigate together.
Why are screens so attractive to children ?
From a very young age, children are fascinated by colors, fast movements, sounds, and the interactions offered by screens. These tools often respond to deep needs :
- Relaxing after a day full of emotions
- Exploring new content
- Imitating adults, who are themselves very present on their devices
- Compensating for a lack, fatigue, or frustration
It is therefore not the screen itself that is problematic, but the place it occupies in family life and what it may come to replace: moments of connection, play, movement, and interaction.
Children’s fundamental needs : a guide for adjusting screen use
To support children properly, it is essential to return to their core needs — physiological, emotional, and social.
1. Moving, eating, sleeping
Screens can disrupt :
- Sleep quality (blue light, overexcitement)
- Awareness of mealtime
- Motor activity, which is essential for development
Regular routines and screen-free moments (morning, meals, before bedtime) help preserve these vital needs.
2. Being connected to others
Human interactions : eye contact, shared play, conversation, gestures; are the foundation of emotional development and language acquisition.
Certain screen uses can create technoference : the adult is physically present but mentally occupied by their phone. The child may then experience a lack of emotional availability.
3. Exploring, manipulating, feeling competent
Nothing replaces sensory experiences, handling real objects, storytelling, symbolic play, or spontaneous exploration.
Screens can be a complement, but should never become a substitute for boredom, difficult emotions, or everyday frustrations.
Screens and development : what does research really say ?
Scientific literature distinguishes between two concepts that are often confused :
- Correlation (two linked phenomena)
- Causation (one causes the other)
Most studies show correlations between excessive screen use and difficulties (attention, sleep, language, etc.), but do not prove that screens are the direct cause.
Three factors moderate the impact of screens :
- The quality of the content
- Adult posture (co-viewing, dialogue, clear rules)
- What the screen replaces in the child’s real-life experience
This is therefore a question of balance and context, rather than prohibition or fear.
How can we support children in practical ways ?
1. Establish screen-free moments
Simple, regular reference points help children structure themselves :
- Upon waking : prioritize a calm moment, a cuddle, a short story
- During meals : to encourage conversation and autonomy
- Before bedtime : create a soothing bubble without light stimulation
These routines strengthen relationships and make falling asleep easier.
2. Guide rather than forbid
The role of parents is not to eliminate screens, but to guide children:
- Offer age-appropriate content
- Watch together, comment, ask questions
- Talk about emotions or themes addressed
- Set simple, consistent, and discussed rules
Each rule set is a building block in the construction of a lasting relationship of trust.
3. Adjust our own usage
Children learn through imitation. They observe how we use our phones:
- During meals ?
- While playing with them ?
- While walking outside ?
By adjusting our own practices, we provide children with valuable and consistent reference points.
4. Promote alternatives
Children need free play, exploration, imagination, and movement.
Offer :
- Books and stories (Find our practical reading tips here)
- Symbolic play
- Creative activities
- Outdoor time
- Constructive moments of boredom
These activities nurture emotional security, creativity, and self-regulation skills.
Practical tips for a calm daily life
- Set up devices : airplane mode in the evening, disable notifications, use age-appropriate filters
- Favor calm and educational content
- Avoid using screens to manage tantrums or fill silence
- Prepare the transition before turning off: “Two more minutes and then we stop”
- Highlight skills gained outside of screens
Useful resources for families
To go further, several organizations offer reliable guidance :
- Action Innocence Switzerland
- UNICEF – Children & Digital Technology
- Youth and Media (Swiss Confederation)
- OFAS – Protection of Minors (films & video games) - Official information on age ratings and recommendations
Living with screens : a shared approach
At KidsCare, our priority is to support families with kindness and without judgment. Screens are neither “good” nor “bad” : they simply need to be integrated into a balanced relationship, where children can grow, explore, dream, and develop all their skills.
By working together, parents, children, professionals, we can offer an environment where digital tools have their place, without taking up all the space.