Let's swap screens for talk!

landrew3
Nov 12
6 min read

How can we support families to swap screens for face-face talk at home?

Screens are everywhere—phones, tablets, TVs—and for parents, they can be both a blessing and a burden. A short video can keep a toddler calm, a cartoon can buy time to make dinner. But experts are increasingly warning that too much screen time, especially in the early years, can affect a children's development in concerning ways.

As Educators we Need to Support our Families by...

Educating our parents and carers about the risks that come with too much screen time.
Providing our parents and carers with the with the knowledge of how to reduce screen time.
Showing our parents and carers how they can built quality talk into the home.

Read this blog and use it to plan how you will support your families with the switch from screens to talk.

How Screens Affect the Developing Brain

The first few years of life are a period of huge brain growth. Children learn best through hands-on play, movement, and back and forth interaction with people. When screen time takes the place of those experiences, vital connections in the brain may not form as strong and, children may experience delays in language, executive function, and social-emotional skills.

A 2019 JAMA Paediatrics study found that toddlers who spent more than two hours a day on screens showed lower development scores in language and problem-solving. Similarly, the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) advises no screen time—other than video calls—for children under 18 months, and limited, high-quality use for children aged 2 upwards.

Physical and Emotional Health Concerns

Screen time also affects the body. Long hours sitting still can contribute to weight gain and poor posture. Blue light from devices can interfere with melatonin, the hormone that helps us fall asleep—leading to tiredness.

Emotionally, screens can act as “digital dummies.” When a device is used to calm a child instead of helping them work through feelings, they miss chances to build self-soothing skills. Over time, this can lead to frustration, tantrums, and difficulty managing emotions without a screen.

Behaviourally, teachers may notice shorter attention spans or heightened irritability in children who engage in high screen use. When screens are used to calm or distract, children may not develop essential self-regulation skills—skills that are foundational for classroom success. Children who rely heavily on digital entertainment can struggle with social play and emotional flexibility.

Social and Family Impacts

Screens can also disrupt relationships. Children who spend a lot of time with digital media may struggle to read facial expressions or take turns in conversation—skills built through everyday back and forth interactions. And when adults are frequently distracted by their own devices, it can make young children feel less connected and secure.

Research has found that higher parental phone use during family time was linked to more behaviour problems in toddlers. Simply put: young children notice when adults are half-present.

Practical Ways to Create Healthy Balance

Completely avoiding screens isn’t realistic for many families, but mindful management makes a big difference. Here's some ideas for mindful management to share with your families.

Model moderation: Let your child see you taking breaks from your own phone or TV.

Set predictable routines: Try screen-free meals, car rides, or bedtime hours.

Co-view and discuss: Watch together and talk about what’s happening to connect learning through screen time to real life.

Prioritize play and conversation: Outdoor play, reading, and imagination-based activities strengthen attention and language far more than passive watching.

Choose quality content: Look for slow-paced, educational programs, rather than fast-moving cartoons.

Finding Balance in a Digital World

Technology isn’t the enemy—it’s how we use it that matters. For young children, the real world remains the best classroom: exploring, building, talking, and playing. When parents use screens intentionally and sparingly, they protect what matters most—connection, creativity, and the joy of growing up in the real world.

Let's talk about talk!

The National Literacy Trust carried out some research in 2019 and then again in 2024 to look into how parents are supporting literacy at home.

Parents' Support For Early Years Literacy At Home 2024 | National Literacy Trust

The key finding from the surveys really show the concerns here:

In 2024, fewer parents reported engaging daily in all home learning activities compared with 2019. For example:

4 in 5 (78.1%) of parents said they had chatted to their child at least once a day in the last week, a decrease of 12.2 percentage points(pp) compared with 2019, when 9 in 10 (90.3%) said they had done this
1 in 2 (56.0%) parents told us that they had played together with their child at least once a day in the last week. This compares with 3 in 4 (76.2%) who reported playing with their child daily in 2019, a decrease of 20.2pp
1 in 2 (50.5%) parents said they had read with their child daily in 2024, a decrease of 15.1pp compared with 2019, when 2 in 3 (66.1%) said they had done this.
Around 1 in 2 parents reported singing with their child (47.5%) daily or more often, while 1 in 3 engaged their children with digital learning activities (34.5%) and played outdoors (33.3%) daily.

Talk is one of the most powerful tools for building your children's confidence, language skills, and emotional wellbeing.

Why Talking Matters

From the very beginning, children learn about the world through interaction. “Serve and return” communication is when an adult responds to a child’s words, gestures, or sounds. This helps build strong brain connections.

When parents talk with children (not just to them), it strengthens vocabulary, emotional understanding, and problem-solving skills. Even simple chats about daily life can boost their curiosity and sense of belonging.

Tips for Meaningful Conversations

Let's support our parents and carers to have meaningful talk at home by educating them.

1. Make space for talk. Turn off background noise, put away devices, and give your child your full attention — even for a few minutes. Children open up most when they feel heard.

2. Ask open-ended questions. Instead of “Did you have a good day?”, try “What was the best part of your day?” or “Who did you play with at playtime?” Open questions invite storytelling and deeper sharing.

3. Follow their lead. If your child wants to talk about dinosaurs or superheroes, go there! Let them guide the topic — your interest tells them their thoughts matter.

4. Listen more than you speak. Show curiosity and empathy. Nod, smile, and echo their feelings (“That sounds exciting!” or “You felt sad when that happened?”). Children thrive when their emotions are acknowledged.

5. Use everyday moments. Conversation doesn’t need to be formal — talk while cooking, shopping, driving, or folding laundry. These relaxed times often lead to the most genuine sharing.

6. Be patient with silence. Sometimes children need time to gather their thoughts. Resist the urge to fill every pause. Quiet moments can lead to thoughtful conversations.

7. Share about yourself. When you talk about your day, challenges, or feelings, you model openness and show your child that talking about emotions is normal and safe.

8. Talk about books that you read. When you read a book chat about it too. Ask questions like 'I wonder how this character is feeling?'. Make comments like 'oh look they are at the park - we went to the park yesterday'.

9. Sing songs and nursery rhymes. Nursery rhymes and songs build a love of words and phonological awareness skills. They also help build connections socially and emotionally.

10. Repeat, repeat, repeat! It's innate for children to want to 'Do it again!' Repeating words, phrases, role play, songs and books helps build stronger connections in children's brains.

The Lasting Impact

Children who grow up in homes filled with conversation tend to be more confident communicators, better problem solvers, and emotionally resilient. They also feel more connected to their parents and carers.

Talking with your children isn’t about having perfect answers. It’s about being present, listening with love, and showing that their voice matters. The next time you sit down together, remember: a few minutes of genuine conversation can make a lifetime of difference.

Resource Signposts

The National Literacy Trust has a wealth of resources to support families at home. Check out their "Words for Life" page for lots of ideas for family talk from 0 - 12 years.

Words for Life | National Literacy Trust | Words for Life