From Business Insider · Renate Flanagan · · 2m
No screens for my toddler. But I understand the temptation.
A parent who keeps her almost-3-year-old away from devices explains why she sticks to it, and when she wishes she didn't.
In brief
A parent who keeps her almost-3-year-old away from devices explains why she sticks to it, and when she wishes she didn't. Renate Flanagan and her husband have kept their almost-3-year-old son screen-free to preserve his engagement with the world, though they acknowledge the appeal of using devices as a parenting tool…
A plan made before parenthood
Renate Flanagan and her husband agreed before having children that they would raise their son speaking English and Dutch, visit real castles in Europe instead of Disney World, and delay screen time as long as…
Theory meets reality with a toddler
Now that they have a child, their theoretical parenting philosophies have been tested against a real-world toddler.
An analog childhood with exceptions
Their son is almost three and mostly has an analog childhood playing with blocks, cars, and coloring books.
The restaurant dilemma
Their son has been on the move since crawling at six months and walking at a year old.
“Wow, what does that feel like?”
The fear of opening a door
Flanagan worries that giving her son a cellphone as a distraction will open a one-way door that leads to him constantly asking to use it.They would love a peaceful dinner but fear the long-term consequences.
When day care closes unexpectedly
During a snowstorm last winter, day care closed for several days. Though Flanagan and her husband could work from home, their son demanded constant attention and could not entertain himself for more than ten to…
The cost of their choice
Flanagan and her husband had to alternate days off to cover the childcare gap caused by the snow.They realized neither could get work done while juggling their son, and he was frustrated by their inattentiveness.
Unexpected rewards from engagement
Because their son engages with the world around him rather than screens, they have had unexpected experiences.
Why they won't give in
Flanagan and her husband have become friendly with a fireman at the local fire station who lets their son climb into the fire engine.
The main idea
Renate Flanagan and her husband have kept their almost-3-year-old son screen-free to preserve his engagement with the world, though they acknowledge the appeal of using devices as a parenting tool.
