Finding a rhythm between screen time and real-world fun without the guilt

Let’s be honest—sometimes Paw Patrol saves more than Adventure Bay. It saves our sanity during dinner prep, a quick shower, or just those moments when parenting feels like juggling flaming Legos. But in our house, we’re learning that screen time doesn’t have to be all or nothing. This post is all about how we’re striving to create a healthy, flexible balance between tablets and tag, cartoons and creativity—without tossing out the tech (or losing our minds).

I would love to say that we are screen free house but we aren’t and honestly we probably never will be. I’m the kind of person who likes the tv on in the background even if I’m not watching it. With that being said, I’m learning how to balance constant cartoons and my toddler learning independent play, not being glued to the screen.

No Disney During Dinner

We are far from perfect at this, but we try to have the tv off during meal times. Reducing the distraction helps my toddler to focus on his meal and actually eat. Dinner is for conversation as a family, not staring at the tv. The main exception to the rule is usually movie and pizza night about once a week. We put a beach towel in the living room floor and have a pizza picnic while we watch a movie. We didn’t start this until Luke was at least 3 years old, probably wouldn’t recommend with younger toddlers for obvious reasons.

Not Just Bluey All Day

It’s easy to turn on a show you know your kids will like and watch all 275 episodes in a day. However, I get tired of knowing the entire Bluey script and like to watch something I enjoy as well. I have found that turning on “family-friendly” adult shows is the best of both worlds. Sometimes it’s a baking show, maybe HGTV, even game/challenge shows are good. Since these are not catered to kids they don’t draw his attention 100% of the time but they also encourage his creativity. If there’s a baking show on, he is wanting to play in his kid kitchen and “bake cupcakes”. If it’s Survivor or American Ninja Warrior, our living room is turned in to an obstacle course with jumps and prizes.

iPad Screen Time is for Car Rides and Camping

We don’t own a “kid’s tablet” but we do have an iPad. Luke is only allowed to watch tv on it during long car rides (2 hours or more) and on camping trips. Long car rides are boring for me so for a rambunctious toddler I can only imagine how bored his little brain gets. So we do allow him to watch shows on the iPad during long drives, but we try to restrict it to last resort or after we have been on the road for a few hours. The beginning of the trip he has to entertain himself; play with toys, listen to music, look out the window. We also allow the iPad on camping trips. This may seem counterproductive to the idea of being in nature and disconnected, but our boy plays long and hard and sometimes he enjoys just getting to lay down and watch a cartoon to let his body rest and get ready to go wide open again.

Our favorite screen-free toys