New kids' screen time guidelines take the pressure off parents!

New guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics say less counting minutes, more quality and context.

We created Pok Pok because we wanted a healthier screen choice for our own kids. It seemed like families everywhere were craving the same, but were also caught between what they felt is right for their family vs. what they were told was right. When 92% of parents privately believe screens can be good, but nearly half feel judged for their choices and 1/4 lie about it, it’s easy to see how collective shame keeps families from trusting what could work for them.

Since releasing the app in 2021, one of the most common criticisms we’ve faced is that, “there is no healthier screen time for kids. All screen time is bad.” Despite advocating for moderate, balanced use, online commentary tends to shut down the potential for balance and flatten all nuance. Any parent asking the internet “how many minutes of screen time should a toddler have?” was often met with “ZERO”. 

However, we’re happy to report that this narrative is now becoming old news. The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated their guidelines to shift the focus away from simply counting time. This new guidance states that screens are part of a child’s “digital ecosystem,” and we should focus on how media fits into that child’s life. Not just the minutes in front of a screen!

The AAP created the 5C’s to guide screen choice:

• Child: Consider each child’s unique personality and how types of media affect them. Are they drawn to it to further a special interest and use imagination, or is it simply to get high scores and quick dopamine hits?
  
• Content: Not all types of content are created equal, and even media labeled “for kids” does not necessarily have their best interest at heart. When thinking of choosing more quality content, consider if it supports child development and their nervous system, or if there are harmful aspects like violence, commercialism, or beauty standards.
  
• Calm: It’s important to choose media that keeps kids calm, but it should not always be used as a primary method of regulation. Kids need to learn other ways to manage emotions and stress through caregivers or a professional.
  
• Crowding out: What is digital media getting in the way of? Be aware of how screen time may be impacting sleep, quality family time, outdoor play, reading books, and other hands-on activities. So much early development happens through these other types of experiences, and human interactions.
  
• Communication: Talk about their media early and often. While this includes highlighting any problematic behaviours modeled on screen, it’s equally important to get curious about what kids enjoy most! This helps build trust and understanding about their relationship to media, and it also can be applied to other activities when it’s time to pivot. For example, a craft can be centred around a favorite character, or a family hike can be framed as an exploration like the kind in their favorite app.

At Pok Pok, we design around these principles, and we’re thrilled to see them reflected by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Since day one, we’ve kept the app low-stimulation with choices like making hand-drawn animations at half-speed, and soft, hand-recorded sounds that are intentionally built into interactions.

There are also no games, levels and scores to beat, so kids don’t feel the pull to have “just one more round.” All of this is to make sure they can put down the tablet and come back to the world around them, even if they’ve had a lot of fun in the app! 

Without constant stimulation and rewards, we’re able to nurture kids’ attention and not just scatter it. With autonomy over where their attention goes, they get to lead their learning and develop a lifelong love for it. The activities in Pok Pok are all open-ended so instead of being told what to do, kids are required to use their imagination and critical thinking—skills that are increasingly important in this AI-driven era. 

As the American Academy of Pediatrics empowers caregivers with ways to be more intentional about screen time, we want to highlight something this has given back to families: choice.

There is no longer one “right” way of doing screen time. You have the choice in what your kids engage with, and how it is balanced into your everyday life.

We’re proud to offer a healthier screen choice that meets each child at their level and can grow with them through the years. Try Pok Pok free and see how it fits into your family!

We’ve been so inspired by the unique approach of each child who plays Pok Pok, and would so appreciate hearing about your experience with the app. Receiving your feedback, videos, and ideas for new updates is how we keep making Pok Pok better for families everywhere! Please say hello at hello@playpokpok.com or on social media @playpokpok.