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The Art of Screen Time: How Your Family Can Balance Digital Media and Real Life
an evidence-based, reassuring guide to what to do about kids and screens, from video games to social media.Today's babies often make their debut on social media with the very first sonogram. They begin interacting with screens at around four months old. But is this good news or bad news? A wonderful opportunity to connect around the world? Or the first step in creating a generation of addled screen zombies? Many have been quick to declare this the dawn of a neurological and emotional crisis, but solid science on the subject is surprisingly hard to come by. In The Art of Screen Time, Anya Kamenetz -- an expert on education and technology, as well as a mother of two young children -- takes a refreshingly practical look at the subject. Surveying hundreds of fellow parents on their practices and ideas, and cutting through a thicket of inconclusive studies and overblown claims, she hones a simple message, a riff on Michael Pollan's well-known "food rules": Enjoy Screens. Not too much. Mostly with others. This brief but powerful dictum forms the backbone of a philosophy that will help parents moderate technology in their children's lives, curb their own anxiety, and create room for a happy, healthy family life with and without screens.
267 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2018
145 people are currently reading
1979 people want to read
About the author
Anya Kamenetz
12 books64 followersAnya is endlessly curious about learning and the future.
Her forthcoming book, The Art of Screen Time (PublicAffairs, 2018) is the first, essential, don’t-panic guide to kids, parents, and screens. You can preorder it now!
Generation Debt (Riverhead, 2006), dealt with youth economics and politics; DIY U: Edupunks, Edupreneurs, and the Coming Transformation of Higher Education (Chelsea Green, 2010), investigated innovations to address the crises in cost, access, and quality in higher education. The Test (PublicAffairs, 2015), is about the past, present and future of testing in American schools.
Learning, Freedom and the Web, The Edupunks’ Guide, and the Edupunks’ Atlas are her free web projects about self-directed, web-enabled learning.
Anya is the lead digital education correspondent for NPR. Her team’s blog is at NPR.org/ed. Previously she covered technology, innovation, sustainability and social entrepreneurship for five years as a staff writer for Fast Company magazine. She’s contributed to The Village Voice, The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Slate, and O, the Oprah Magazine.
She was named a 2010 Game Changer in Education by the Huffington Post and won 2009, 2010, and 2015 National Awards from the Education Writers Association. NPR Ed won a 2017 Edward R. Murrow award for Innovation from the Radio Television Digital News Association.
She appears in the documentaries Generation Next (2006), Default: A Student Loan Documentary (2011), both shown on PBS, and Ivory Tower, distributed by Participant Media.
Anya grew up in Louisiana, in a family of writers and mystics, and graduated from Yale University in 2002. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two daughters.
Her forthcoming book, The Art of Screen Time (PublicAffairs, 2018) is the first, essential, don’t-panic guide to kids, parents, and screens. You can preorder it now!
Generation Debt (Riverhead, 2006), dealt with youth economics and politics; DIY U: Edupunks, Edupreneurs, and the Coming Transformation of Higher Education (Chelsea Green, 2010), investigated innovations to address the crises in cost, access, and quality in higher education. The Test (PublicAffairs, 2015), is about the past, present and future of testing in American schools.
Learning, Freedom and the Web, The Edupunks’ Guide, and the Edupunks’ Atlas are her free web projects about self-directed, web-enabled learning.
Anya is the lead digital education correspondent for NPR. Her team’s blog is at NPR.org/ed. Previously she covered technology, innovation, sustainability and social entrepreneurship for five years as a staff writer for Fast Company magazine. She’s contributed to The Village Voice, The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Slate, and O, the Oprah Magazine.
She was named a 2010 Game Changer in Education by the Huffington Post and won 2009, 2010, and 2015 National Awards from the Education Writers Association. NPR Ed won a 2017 Edward R. Murrow award for Innovation from the Radio Television Digital News Association.
She appears in the documentaries Generation Next (2006), Default: A Student Loan Documentary (2011), both shown on PBS, and Ivory Tower, distributed by Participant Media.
Anya grew up in Louisiana, in a family of writers and mystics, and graduated from Yale University in 2002. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
February 6, 2018
Finally, a well-researched, non-guilt-tripping book about screen time that takes into account the realities of modern families' lives. I loved the pragmatism. Well-written and readable. I've adopted much of the author's advice since reading this excellent book.
February 7, 2021
“ให้ข้อมูล ไม่ตัดสิน และ อยู่ในโลกของความเป็นจริง”
ผมว่าหนังสือเล่มนี้ดีทีเดียว
แน่นอนว่า “เรา” ที่ใช้มือถือหรือแทบเล็ตที่อ่านเจอรีวิวนี้ ล้วนทราบดีถึง “ข้อควรคำนึง” ของ “หน้าจอ” ของเหล่าอุปกรณ์ทั้งหลายกับเด็ก ๆ ที่กำลังเติบโตขึ้น
ก่อนหน้านี้ ผมคิดจะเลี้ยงลูกให้ห่างหน้าจอนานที่สุดเท่าที่จะทำได้ แต่พอย้อนมาดูตัวเอง ก็สำนึกได้ว่าวันหนึ่ง ๆ ตัวผมเองอยู่กับหน้าจอนานเพียงใด และนี่คือโลก ที่ลูกของผมต้องเติบโตขึ้นมาเผชิญอย่างหลีกหนีไม่ได้
หนังสือเล่มนี้ให้ความกระจ่างหลายเรื่อง
ผู้เขียนชี้ให้เห็นถึงสมดุลย์ของชีวิต ที่ “หน้าจอ” เข้ามาเป็นส่วนหนึ่ง
ผู้เขียนให้ข้อมูลที่เป็นผลกระทบของ “หน้าจอ” ต่อลูกหลานของเรา และให้ solution เป็นแนวคิดกว้าง ๆ ที่สามารถนำไปปรับใช้ได้ในแต่ละครอบครัว ไม่ได้เคาะกฎออกมาแบบแข็ง ๆ
นอกจากนี้ ผู้เขียนไม่ได้ “ตัดสิน” พฤติกรรมของพ่อแม่ที่ปล่อยลูกเอาไว้กับหน้าจอโดยไม่ได้ควบคุม แต่ผู้เขียนยังเข้าอกเข้าใจข้อจำกัดหลากหลายประการที่แต่ละครอบครัวต้องเผชิญ จนกระทั่งต้องปล่อยลูกเอาไว้กับหน้าจอ
ผมชอบที่ solution มันมีความเป็นไปได้นี่แหละ
ผู้เขียนเน้นย้ำว่า “หน้าจอ + พ่อแม่ (บ้างเป็นบางครั้ง)” เป็นทางออกที่น่าจะประณีประนอมที่สุดในการสร้างภูมิต้านทางให้กับลูกหลานของเรา ที่ต้องเติบโตขึ้นมาในฐานะ digital native
หนังสือออกแนว informative มาก บางทีอ่านข้าม ๆ ง่วง ๆ ไปบ้าง แต่ได้ใจความสำคัญ และได้มุมมองบวกกับทางออกแน่นอน
ถ้าจะอ่าน คงตั้งเป้าว่าอ่านเอาสนุกไม่ได้ แต่ถ้าตั้งเป้าว่าจะได้ไอเดียในการเลี้ยงลูก หรือตอบคำถามในใจว่าจะให้ลูกเล่นแทบเล็ตตอนไหน ผมว่าเล่มนี้ตอบโจทย์
มันเหมาะมากกับพ่อแม่ที่เกิดมาในยุคที่ยังไม่ได้เป็น digital native อย่างเรา
ผมว่าหนังสือเล่มนี้ดีทีเดียว
แน่นอนว่า “เรา” ที่ใช้มือถือหรือแทบเล็ตที่อ่านเจอรีวิวนี้ ล้วนทราบดีถึง “ข้อควรคำนึง” ของ “หน้าจอ” ของเหล่าอุปกรณ์ทั้งหลายกับเด็ก ๆ ที่กำลังเติบโตขึ้น
ก่อนหน้านี้ ผมคิดจะเลี้ยงลูกให้ห่างหน้าจอนานที่สุดเท่าที่จะทำได้ แต่พอย้อนมาดูตัวเอง ก็สำนึกได้ว่าวันหนึ่ง ๆ ตัวผมเองอยู่กับหน้าจอนานเพียงใด และนี่คือโลก ที่ลูกของผมต้องเติบโตขึ้นมาเผชิญอย่างหลีกหนีไม่ได้
หนังสือเล่มนี้ให้ความกระจ่างหลายเรื่อง
ผู้เขียนชี้ให้เห็นถึงสมดุลย์ของชีวิต ที่ “หน้าจอ” เข้ามาเป็นส่วนหนึ่ง
ผู้เขียนให้ข้อมูลที่เป็นผลกระทบของ “หน้าจอ” ต่อลูกหลานของเรา และให้ solution เป็นแนวคิดกว้าง ๆ ที่สามารถนำไปปรับใช้ได้ในแต่ละครอบครัว ไม่ได้เคาะกฎออกมาแบบแข็ง ๆ
นอกจากนี้ ผู้เขียนไม่ได้ “ตัดสิน” พฤติกรรมของพ่อแม่ที่ปล่อยลูกเอาไว้กับหน้าจอโดยไม่ได้ควบคุม แต่ผู้เขียนยังเข้าอกเข้าใจข้อจำกัดหลากหลายประการที่แต่ละครอบครัวต้องเผชิญ จนกระทั่งต้องปล่อยลูกเอาไว้กับหน้าจอ
ผมชอบที่ solution มันมีความเป็นไปได้นี่แหละ
ผู้เขียนเน้นย้ำว่า “หน้าจอ + พ่อแม่ (บ้างเป็นบางครั้ง)” เป็นทางออกที่น่าจะประณีประนอมที่สุดในการสร้างภูมิต้านทางให้กับลูกหลานของเรา ที่ต้องเติบโตขึ้นมาในฐานะ digital native
หนังสือออกแนว informative มาก บางทีอ่านข้าม ๆ ง่วง ๆ ไปบ้าง แต่ได้ใจความสำคัญ และได้มุมมองบวกกับทางออกแน่นอน
ถ้าจะอ่าน คงตั้งเป้าว่าอ่านเอาสนุกไม่ได้ แต่ถ้าตั้งเป้าว่าจะได้ไอเดียในการเลี้ยงลูก หรือตอบคำถามในใจว่าจะให้ลูกเล่นแทบเล็ตตอนไหน ผมว่าเล่มนี้ตอบโจทย์
มันเหมาะมากกับพ่อแม่ที่เกิดมาในยุคที่ยังไม่ได้เป็น digital native อย่างเรา
March 2, 2018
I've been following Kamenetz since the publication of DIY U, which I highly recommend to anyone who has a stake in college and university life in the United States. Seriously. Stop reading this review and go get it right now, Nammy.
Kamenetz's usually hard-hitting, no-nonsense tone has softened a bit in this new book. Parenthood can do that to you, as I have learned. The overall tone of the book aims for balance, but I think it strays a bit too far on the side of permissiveness. I was surprised at the resignation coming through in many of the passages, even though it was once in a while tempered by things like "we once thought smoking was too big an issue to take on, and we have culturally completely reformed our habits in that regard."
The central analogy of the book is that screens are like food. There are healthy, nourishing kinds of food, and then there are take-out and drive-through meals. No one dies from eating a single Whopper, so we should probably all chill out. And for heaven's sake, we need to stop shaming people when a Happy Meal seems like the best option they have; it's certainly better than starving. I get that, mostly, but I think it plays into most middle- and upper-middle class people's (the target audience) ability to rationalize and make excuses for their shortcomings.
In way, she has to take that position, because we all have an awful lot of screen-related shortcomings. So it does make sense to say that the data is inconclusive about how harmful it is or how helpful it might be. The publishing bias means that more negative stories are printed than positive ones, but even without the formalized, university-based strong arm of research, most people need to look no further than their habits to see that what they thought was a tool is really a crutch. It's just hard to say that without freaking people out, especially vulnerable parents of young kids, among whom Kamenetz counts. So she doesn't see it.
Instead of relying on decades of research by Sherry Turkle, whose studies Kamenetz deems "anecdotal and over-interpreted" (I've read them and disagree), she defers to the opinions of danah boyd, an anthropologist who works for Microsoft, though that last bit is left out. boyd's positions seem to me far more anecdotal than Turkle's, but they are more palatable, so they seem to win out.
Despite the skew toward permissiveness, I think Kamenetz gives a lot of actionable steps that parents can take to establish a more meaningful family life, one that is less dominated by passive forms of digital consumption. The last three pages of the book are the TL;DR list of suggestions, so if you're interested, have at it.
Kamenetz's usually hard-hitting, no-nonsense tone has softened a bit in this new book. Parenthood can do that to you, as I have learned. The overall tone of the book aims for balance, but I think it strays a bit too far on the side of permissiveness. I was surprised at the resignation coming through in many of the passages, even though it was once in a while tempered by things like "we once thought smoking was too big an issue to take on, and we have culturally completely reformed our habits in that regard."
The central analogy of the book is that screens are like food. There are healthy, nourishing kinds of food, and then there are take-out and drive-through meals. No one dies from eating a single Whopper, so we should probably all chill out. And for heaven's sake, we need to stop shaming people when a Happy Meal seems like the best option they have; it's certainly better than starving. I get that, mostly, but I think it plays into most middle- and upper-middle class people's (the target audience) ability to rationalize and make excuses for their shortcomings.
In way, she has to take that position, because we all have an awful lot of screen-related shortcomings. So it does make sense to say that the data is inconclusive about how harmful it is or how helpful it might be. The publishing bias means that more negative stories are printed than positive ones, but even without the formalized, university-based strong arm of research, most people need to look no further than their habits to see that what they thought was a tool is really a crutch. It's just hard to say that without freaking people out, especially vulnerable parents of young kids, among whom Kamenetz counts. So she doesn't see it.
Instead of relying on decades of research by Sherry Turkle, whose studies Kamenetz deems "anecdotal and over-interpreted" (I've read them and disagree), she defers to the opinions of danah boyd, an anthropologist who works for Microsoft, though that last bit is left out. boyd's positions seem to me far more anecdotal than Turkle's, but they are more palatable, so they seem to win out.
Despite the skew toward permissiveness, I think Kamenetz gives a lot of actionable steps that parents can take to establish a more meaningful family life, one that is less dominated by passive forms of digital consumption. The last three pages of the book are the TL;DR list of suggestions, so if you're interested, have at it.
October 9, 2017
This book can be summed up in the quote the author adapted from food writer Michael Pollan: "Enjoy screens. Not too much. Mostly with others." It is full of research studies and is presented in a readable manner.
I received an ARC from NetGalley. The book will be released on January 30, 2018.
I received an ARC from NetGalley. The book will be released on January 30, 2018.
May 15, 2021
ผมว่าเล่มนี้พ่อแม่ทุกคนควรอ่านนะ ถึงบางท่อนบางตอนจะน่าเบื่อ แต่ก็ลอง Skim อ่านคร่าวๆ ได้ หรือไม่ก็ถ้าไม่ว่างจริงๆ ตอนท้ายๆ ก็มีสรุปแบบรวบรัดแบบอ่าน 5 นาทีจบสำหรับพ่อแม่ไม่มีเวลาด้วยนะเออ
เล่มนี้เหมือน Literature Review ผลกระทบจากหน้าจอต่อลูกน้อยในวัยต่างๆ ผสมผสานกับความเห็นของนักวิชาการ และที่สำคัญคือภาคปฏิบัติที่เหล่าคุณหมอและผู้เชี่ยวชาญเรื่องเด็ก รวมถึงตัวผู้เขียนเองเอาไปปฏิบัติจริง
สรุปเล่มนี้ก็คือไม่มีบทสรุปว่าหน้าจอส่งผลกระทบอย่างไรต่อเด็ก เพราะเด็กแต่ละคนมีความเสี่ยงจากหน้าจอไม่เท่ากัน สิ่งสำคัญคืออย่าปล่อยเด็กทิ้งไว้กับหน้าจอคนเดียว พ่อแม่ควรให้เวลา นั่งอยู่กับลูก และรู้เสมอว่าลูกรับสื่ออะไรจากหน้าจอ พร้อมกับเปิดอกคุยอย่างตรงไปตรงมา
เล่มนี้เหมือน Literature Review ผลกระทบจากหน้าจอต่อลูกน้อยในวัยต่างๆ ผสมผสานกับความเห็นของนักวิชาการ และที่สำคัญคือภาคปฏิบัติที่เหล่าคุณหมอและผู้เชี่ยวชาญเรื่องเด็ก รวมถึงตัวผู้เขียนเองเอาไปปฏิบัติจริง
สรุปเล่มนี้ก็คือไม่มีบทสรุปว่าหน้าจอส่งผลกระทบอย่างไรต่อเด็ก เพราะเด็กแต่ละคนมีความเสี่ยงจากหน้าจอไม่เท่ากัน สิ่งสำคัญคืออย่าปล่อยเด็กทิ้งไว้กับหน้าจอคนเดียว พ่อแม่ควรให้เวลา นั่งอยู่กับลูก และรู้เสมอว่าลูกรับสื่ออะไรจากหน้าจอ พร้อมกับเปิดอกคุยอย่างตรงไปตรงมา
September 12, 2022
I loved it. Helpful, important, and inspirational.
March 26, 2018
I read this book after changing the screen time rules in our house. I was curious about other’s ideas on the topic, and I’d heard about this book from two sources recently. Anya starts the book with the research on the impact of screen time on kids, which is rather scarce and unreliable.
Then she shares her own theory about screen time, which I found rather interesting and valid enough. She says screens are kind of like junk food. It’s all about moderation and not abstinence. Sort of like dieting vs. avoiding cigarettes all together.
She shares stories from her own family and data from an extensive survey she conducted online. And she also talks about adults’ use of screens. I discussed more about my impressions about this book on my other blog, Mom’s Radius.
http://opinionatedbooklover.com/recen...
Then she shares her own theory about screen time, which I found rather interesting and valid enough. She says screens are kind of like junk food. It’s all about moderation and not abstinence. Sort of like dieting vs. avoiding cigarettes all together.
She shares stories from her own family and data from an extensive survey she conducted online. And she also talks about adults’ use of screens. I discussed more about my impressions about this book on my other blog, Mom’s Radius.
http://opinionatedbooklover.com/recen...
May 9, 2018
Anya Kamenetz is a great writer, but early on in the book she goes after my beloved Sherry Turkle, which enticed me to scrutinize every word, sentence, and source in search of a weakness. But alas, I could not find too many. This is the guidebook parents we need for now if you are looking for a touchstone in dealing with digital anxiety. But since I took the devils pill, here are my nit-pics:
There are one too many product comparisons, bordering on subtle endorsement.
This book is American centered - nothing from Asian or African communities who deal with the same issues.
Despite calling Turkle “Antidotal,” the author (self admittedly) packages her research with speculative analogy.
Doesn’t deal with the white elephant in the room: negotiating with a whining adolescent over where to put their eyes.
But this book isn’t about controlling behavior- it’s about what you can do now, based on analysis from all of the experts in the western world, written in a way that informs without terrorizing.
There are one too many product comparisons, bordering on subtle endorsement.
This book is American centered - nothing from Asian or African communities who deal with the same issues.
Despite calling Turkle “Antidotal,” the author (self admittedly) packages her research with speculative analogy.
Doesn’t deal with the white elephant in the room: negotiating with a whining adolescent over where to put their eyes.
But this book isn’t about controlling behavior- it’s about what you can do now, based on analysis from all of the experts in the western world, written in a way that informs without terrorizing.
January 3, 2019
Is it the best. Book. Ever? No. But it does exactly what it sets out to do and explains what research actually says, and does not say about the effects of screen time on kids, as well and discusses what various experts say about their research and what they do about screens in their homes.
Realistically looks at the fact that mobile devices and the internet are not going away and real people use them for good purposes throughout the day.
A TL;DR section at the end summarizes the book nicely if storylines, anecdotes and quotations are not your thing.
Personally, I am not going to worry about any screen time when it is being used as digital paper; ie, reading a book, looking up cool facts, or learning how to do something, unless it’s too close to bedtime. Interactive use will be prioritized above passive use, but I’ll keep an eye out for games that become compulsive. Devices should be charged in the kitchen.
This goes for my kids too. ;)
Realistically looks at the fact that mobile devices and the internet are not going away and real people use them for good purposes throughout the day.
A TL;DR section at the end summarizes the book nicely if storylines, anecdotes and quotations are not your thing.
Personally, I am not going to worry about any screen time when it is being used as digital paper; ie, reading a book, looking up cool facts, or learning how to do something, unless it’s too close to bedtime. Interactive use will be prioritized above passive use, but I’ll keep an eye out for games that become compulsive. Devices should be charged in the kitchen.
This goes for my kids too. ;)
April 30, 2018
Having just taken a class all about the effects of the media, both good and bad, I found this book to be an interesting discussion about how to parent while using media effectively. Some of the most compelling points include the idea that media is not bad in and of itself, but how we use it makes all the difference. If we let it control our lives at the risk of losing the relationships with those around us, that's a problem. If we ban all media from entering our homes, that's a problem as well. We must learn how to use media effectively, to use it as the tool that it is, and to be aware and open about our own usage so that we can teach our children about media in a healthy, constructive way. Also, if parents stick their heads in the sand for how their children use media, that's not great. YAY FOR NOT DEMONIZING MEDIA BUT USING IT IN HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE WAYS!
July 29, 2019
As someone who must have at least a light addiction to technology, I found this book very interesting. Kamenetz really focuses on the advice: "Enjoy time with screens; mostly with others; not too often". When she focuses on that thesis, I find the book to be really good. I also appreciate how often she reiterates that some studies don't necessarily prove casualty and reminds parents that are no perfect solutions and most parents are just doing their best.
I found the most interest part of the book to be the confessions of inferiority she feels when reading mommy blogs and Instagram-famous mom accounts on social media.
Honestly really good stuff that made me think a lot about myself my coming son.
I found the most interest part of the book to be the confessions of inferiority she feels when reading mommy blogs and Instagram-famous mom accounts on social media.
Honestly really good stuff that made me think a lot about myself my coming son.
November 2, 2018
I’m really into this book, though the last third took forever to get through due to grant writing and the second season of Riverdale. I appreciate the takeaway - enjoy screens, not too much, mostly together - and have been trying to be better about my own usage/expectations with the girls. The food allergy and baby led weaning comparisons were helpful mindset focusers too. The education section broke my heart a little but she’s not wrong and I am trying to be more intentional about when/how I incorporate tech into our lessons.
November 18, 2018
“Enjoy screens. Not too much. Mostly with others.” With this quote (adapted from Michael Pollan) as a guiding principle, the author offers a balance of research and reassurance. My big takeaway is to stop assuming that the screen time rules that work for other families, or that are prescribed by the so-called experts, are necessarily right for us. Each family is different, each kid is different, and finding that right balance will be unique for each family.
March 18, 2023
I didn't really finish this book. It was written more like a topical book, examining how screens interface with parenting. It wasn’t really a how-to for parents. It starts out that way and is over in 2 chapters, and I didn't feel like she really did the topic justice for older kids. Her own kid is a baby, so maybe she just doesn't realize how complex it can get with teens? Her cheery attitude also felt dated, what with the recent hullabaloo about teen depression probably being linked to social media use. Anyway, I didn't want to read about Things Parents Do Online so I kinda browsed the second half of the book.
July 5, 2018
Insightful book, but I couldn’t seem to finish it. The concept was one I felt would have been better summed up in an article. I definitely agree with what she has to say, and it did help me to be more aware of digital media in my life. However, for me, it was like preaching to the choir.
January 17, 2020
Equally fascinating and frightening.
April 10, 2018
*Update*
This was a breezy, non-judgy and up to the minute take on how to maintain balance with regard to media. Overall, a good read with a simple message, a riff on Michael Pollen's food rules, "Enjoy screens, not too much, mostly with others."
Really enjoying this one. So far, it has addressed technology use across early childhood, relevant to me as a new parent, and in schools, relevant to me as a public school employee. The next section addresses adult use of screens *gulp.*
This was a breezy, non-judgy and up to the minute take on how to maintain balance with regard to media. Overall, a good read with a simple message, a riff on Michael Pollen's food rules, "Enjoy screens, not too much, mostly with others."
Really enjoying this one. So far, it has addressed technology use across early childhood, relevant to me as a new parent, and in schools, relevant to me as a public school employee. The next section addresses adult use of screens *gulp.*
Read
March 1, 2022This is good for what it is (a current affairs/tech book), but I expected it to be more of a “how” book about parenting strategies than a “what” book on the state of media today. The author isn’t giving parents advice but rather collecting research for them, and while I like her balanced approach, this isn’t the book it markets itself as, and most of the research points to things that are fairly obvious and self-evident (e.g., screens aren’t toxic in and of themselves, and parents should be thoughtful about why and how much their kids use screens). The last chapter, titled “Tl;dr,” is a 3.5-page summary of the rest of the book, and I didn’t find any of it new or particularly revelatory. Still, this is full of good research, and I can see it being helpful for (a) parents who haven’t really thought about this stuff before or (b) parents who are looking for research to cite when arguing about screentime with co-parents, other caregivers, or older children.
February 26, 2021
This is the best screen/parenting book I’ve looked at. The author covered the physical and emotional impact of screens. Overall, the tone was very balanced—no fear mongering, just a helpful review of the facts and data. My favorite part was chapter 10 which was a TL;DR summary.
I had my 13-year-old read this book and do a report on it. I required a small review of each chapter and then a conclusion that included his own recommendations for screens/limits in our family.
This is a great resource for all parents navigating a screen-filled world.
I had my 13-year-old read this book and do a report on it. I required a small review of each chapter and then a conclusion that included his own recommendations for screens/limits in our family.
This is a great resource for all parents navigating a screen-filled world.
April 8, 2018
As impressed as I am by the author's ability to turn "it varies and there's no set time. Use your judgement and be involved" into hundreds of pages of writing... That's the entire message of the book. That's it. You're welcome
February 7, 2025
This is equal parts interesting and infuriating. It is far too credulous about the benefits of screentime and, especially in our post-The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness world, feels like it mostly came down on the wrong side of the argument.
She makes many provocative points, like how much of the anti-screentime stuff feels like poorly concealed "women aren't being good enough moms" attacks. But....she leans so hard into "but there is THEORETICAL POTENTIAL FOR GOOD from screens!!1!"
This credulousness is most pronounced in the section on technology in education which paints a broadly positive picture of all the potential benefits before finally, somewhat understatedly, admitting that no widespread benefit has ever actually emerged. But it might some day! So we should keep trying with tech in education!
There were three different passages that really highlighted to me how much she bends over backwards to try to paint screentime in a positive light. She talks about how when Cory Doctorow was reading a story to his child, they were able to pull up Wikipedia articles & videos about the animals they weren't familiar with (or whatever it was, I forget). She talks about how screens let grandchildren video call with gran' ma ma back in the old country. And maybe that harried mom at the park looking at her phone is just replying to a work email from an overbearing boss and not scrolling Instagram, so we shouldn't judge!
And I'm just left feeling...COME ON. Average screen time is something like 6 hours and 40 minutes a day. Are you really going to try to tell me that those 6 hours are spent predominantly video calling gran' ma ma? (Also: let's leave aside the terrible role modeling of responding to work email at all hours of the day.) Tiktok and Instagram and Facebook and Youtube are making billions of dollars for a reason. That's what people are actually spending screentime on, not researching multimedia educational extravaganzas for their children.
So she ends up way too permissive, in my opinion. (Side note: she is/was (I think?) a Wall Street Jones reporter and this kind of faux "both sidesism" is kind of endemic to that kind of Main Stream Journalism.)
At the end of the day I keep coming back to this: before the iPhone 3g was released in 2008 we had nothing remotely like the current conception of screentime. And that wasn't even 20 years ago! Was life 20 years ago really so horrible? Was parenting so impossible?
The good parts: when you squint and get past her both-sides-ism she gives a Pollan-esque diktat: "Enjoy screens; not too much; mostly together.". And I agree, the "root evil" of modern screen is probably the solitary use. We're on a phone or an tablet by ourselves. We have no idea what our kids are watching. Or who they are talking to. That's a VASTLY different dynamic than a TV in the family room, which, even if it is on 18 hours a day, you have some vague peripheral understanding of what your kids are watching and can step in.
And yes, she is right that when we talk about "screentime" we should distinguish between mindless Youtube videos and videocalls with relatives and the small handful of other obviously good uses. (Just as one example: while reading a book today my kindergartners had no idea what a "ball of yarn" was or why a cat was stereotypically supposed to play with one so we watch 5 minutes of kitten Youtube videos and I don't think anyone should feel bad about that.) But would any sane person really cut of the video call with gran' ma ma at 15 minutes because "the AAP says kids age 3 should only have 60 minutes of screentime a day" and they already watched 45 minutes of CocoMelon?
She makes many provocative points, like how much of the anti-screentime stuff feels like poorly concealed "women aren't being good enough moms" attacks. But....she leans so hard into "but there is THEORETICAL POTENTIAL FOR GOOD from screens!!1!"
This credulousness is most pronounced in the section on technology in education which paints a broadly positive picture of all the potential benefits before finally, somewhat understatedly, admitting that no widespread benefit has ever actually emerged. But it might some day! So we should keep trying with tech in education!
There were three different passages that really highlighted to me how much she bends over backwards to try to paint screentime in a positive light. She talks about how when Cory Doctorow was reading a story to his child, they were able to pull up Wikipedia articles & videos about the animals they weren't familiar with (or whatever it was, I forget). She talks about how screens let grandchildren video call with gran' ma ma back in the old country. And maybe that harried mom at the park looking at her phone is just replying to a work email from an overbearing boss and not scrolling Instagram, so we shouldn't judge!
And I'm just left feeling...COME ON. Average screen time is something like 6 hours and 40 minutes a day. Are you really going to try to tell me that those 6 hours are spent predominantly video calling gran' ma ma? (Also: let's leave aside the terrible role modeling of responding to work email at all hours of the day.) Tiktok and Instagram and Facebook and Youtube are making billions of dollars for a reason. That's what people are actually spending screentime on, not researching multimedia educational extravaganzas for their children.
So she ends up way too permissive, in my opinion. (Side note: she is/was (I think?) a Wall Street Jones reporter and this kind of faux "both sidesism" is kind of endemic to that kind of Main Stream Journalism.)
At the end of the day I keep coming back to this: before the iPhone 3g was released in 2008 we had nothing remotely like the current conception of screentime. And that wasn't even 20 years ago! Was life 20 years ago really so horrible? Was parenting so impossible?
The good parts: when you squint and get past her both-sides-ism she gives a Pollan-esque diktat: "Enjoy screens; not too much; mostly together.". And I agree, the "root evil" of modern screen is probably the solitary use. We're on a phone or an tablet by ourselves. We have no idea what our kids are watching. Or who they are talking to. That's a VASTLY different dynamic than a TV in the family room, which, even if it is on 18 hours a day, you have some vague peripheral understanding of what your kids are watching and can step in.
And yes, she is right that when we talk about "screentime" we should distinguish between mindless Youtube videos and videocalls with relatives and the small handful of other obviously good uses. (Just as one example: while reading a book today my kindergartners had no idea what a "ball of yarn" was or why a cat was stereotypically supposed to play with one so we watch 5 minutes of kitten Youtube videos and I don't think anyone should feel bad about that.) But would any sane person really cut of the video call with gran' ma ma at 15 minutes because "the AAP says kids age 3 should only have 60 minutes of screentime a day" and they already watched 45 minutes of CocoMelon?
August 5, 2022
"'Sleep is one of the most fundamental things for learning,' pediatrician Dr. Jenny Radesky told me. It particularly affects the consolidation of memories, which is especially important for kids. 'You need to put the Jell-O in the fridge overnight and let it set.'" p. 22
"We are all to some extent victims of the fact that doom and gloom gets clicks and eyeballs. 'The news media focuses on harms. Which is reasonable, because if there are harms we should know about them. But those negative reports tend to drown out the overall pattern.'" p. 50
"When hit with 'Why? Why? Why?,' parents should absolutely pull out their phones and consult Wikipedia or YouTube to satisfy curiosity together." p. 69
"Forget about blanket screen time limits, at least for kids above age seven or so....That's much less important than understanding what's happening with their media use. It's a huge opportunity for learning, civic engagement, discovery of passions. The online world is what you make of it and you have to, as a parent, guide kids to the positive." p. 79-80
"Keep screens out of the bedroom and turn them off an hour before bedtime, sleep researchers say. Also, there's a wide consensus that family meatime shoudl be screen-free as a rule...focus on making an hour of outdoor time or other physical activity a priority." p. 113
"An emerging thread of research suggests that mothers multitask more than single women and more than fathers. They do so both at home and at work. At home we do more of the chores, particularly more of the mental tasks of managing and organizing calendars, schedules, and to-do lists. At work we are highly productive employees. And all the time we report being more tired and needing more sleep. To be in mama bear mode, constantly scanning the horizon for opportunities and threats, also makes us more prone to depression and anxiety. And those conditions too can drive us right back to our phones." p. 156
"'Less work for Mother' will never come about because of tenchological advances alone. It will happen because of a frank renegotiation of household tasks between opposite-sex partners, and also more social supports from government and employers." p. 157
"Developmental psychologists argue that self-regulation is a core capacity for an effective and happy life. In order to develop it, children need support in developing awareness of their surroundings and their feelings. They need a vocabularly to express what's going on around them and for them, and the security and support to know that they can express hard emotions and develop strategies to manage them. This will in turn enable them to maintain calm in challenging situations and to defer gratification so they can reach challenging goals. The danger is that quantification-- grades in school, a sticker chart at home-- interrupts this process by imposing an external meter. We or our kids set our minds to gaming the system, rather than deciding for ourselves the right thing to do." p. 210
"For older kids, discuss what is happening in the story and how characters feel, talk abotu their favorite discoveries on social networks, or learn from them how to play a video game. Ask 'What did you see online today?' just like you ask 'How was school today?'" p. 223
"From an early age, encourage creativity and expression as part of your child's media use. This could be anything from decorating greeting cards using the Paper app, to a coding app like ScratchJr, to using YouTube to research how a volcano works." p. 224
"The goal is to raise responsible kids in an atmosphere of trust and support. Surveillance won't achieve that. Treat online social spaces much as you would kids hanging out at a friend's house-- trust, verify, and then respect their privacy." p. 224
"We are all to some extent victims of the fact that doom and gloom gets clicks and eyeballs. 'The news media focuses on harms. Which is reasonable, because if there are harms we should know about them. But those negative reports tend to drown out the overall pattern.'" p. 50
"When hit with 'Why? Why? Why?,' parents should absolutely pull out their phones and consult Wikipedia or YouTube to satisfy curiosity together." p. 69
"Forget about blanket screen time limits, at least for kids above age seven or so....That's much less important than understanding what's happening with their media use. It's a huge opportunity for learning, civic engagement, discovery of passions. The online world is what you make of it and you have to, as a parent, guide kids to the positive." p. 79-80
"Keep screens out of the bedroom and turn them off an hour before bedtime, sleep researchers say. Also, there's a wide consensus that family meatime shoudl be screen-free as a rule...focus on making an hour of outdoor time or other physical activity a priority." p. 113
"An emerging thread of research suggests that mothers multitask more than single women and more than fathers. They do so both at home and at work. At home we do more of the chores, particularly more of the mental tasks of managing and organizing calendars, schedules, and to-do lists. At work we are highly productive employees. And all the time we report being more tired and needing more sleep. To be in mama bear mode, constantly scanning the horizon for opportunities and threats, also makes us more prone to depression and anxiety. And those conditions too can drive us right back to our phones." p. 156
"'Less work for Mother' will never come about because of tenchological advances alone. It will happen because of a frank renegotiation of household tasks between opposite-sex partners, and also more social supports from government and employers." p. 157
"Developmental psychologists argue that self-regulation is a core capacity for an effective and happy life. In order to develop it, children need support in developing awareness of their surroundings and their feelings. They need a vocabularly to express what's going on around them and for them, and the security and support to know that they can express hard emotions and develop strategies to manage them. This will in turn enable them to maintain calm in challenging situations and to defer gratification so they can reach challenging goals. The danger is that quantification-- grades in school, a sticker chart at home-- interrupts this process by imposing an external meter. We or our kids set our minds to gaming the system, rather than deciding for ourselves the right thing to do." p. 210
"For older kids, discuss what is happening in the story and how characters feel, talk abotu their favorite discoveries on social networks, or learn from them how to play a video game. Ask 'What did you see online today?' just like you ask 'How was school today?'" p. 223
"From an early age, encourage creativity and expression as part of your child's media use. This could be anything from decorating greeting cards using the Paper app, to a coding app like ScratchJr, to using YouTube to research how a volcano works." p. 224
"The goal is to raise responsible kids in an atmosphere of trust and support. Surveillance won't achieve that. Treat online social spaces much as you would kids hanging out at a friend's house-- trust, verify, and then respect their privacy." p. 224
September 30, 2022
หน้าจอ-โลกจริง: สมดุลใหม่ของครอบครัวยุคดิจิทัล (The Art of Screen Time)
ถ้าคุณหวังว่าจะได้คำตอบว่า “เราหรือลูกของเราควรใช้หน้าจอไม่เกินกี่ชั่วโมงต่อวันจึงจะปลอดภัย” หรือ “มีเทคนิคการใช้หน้าจออย่างไรให้เหมาะสมในครอบครัวยุคดิจิทัล” ขอตอบว่า หนังสือเล่มนี้ไม่ได้คำตอบเหล่านี้ชัด ๆ แก่เราครับ ผิดหวังเลยใช่ไหมครับ…
แม้หนังสือเล่มนี้ ไม่สามารถให้คำตอบแบบ “เป๊ะ ๆ” กับคำถามดังกล่าวได้ ผู้เขียน อันยา คาเมเนตซ์ ผู้เชี่ยวชาญด้านการศึกษาและเทคโนโลยี ได้เปิดมุมมองที่เรียกว่า “กว้างขวาง” มาก ๆ กับเรื่องสื่อหน้าจอ ที่มีผลกระทบต่อเด็ก พ่อแม่ รวมทั้งคนในครอบครัว
เราจะเห็นตั้งต้นจากชื่อหนังสือว่า “The Art of Screen Time” ซึ่งบ่งว่า แท้จริงแล้ว การใช้หน้าจอ มิใช่ เรื่องที่เป็นศาสตร์เพียงอย่างเดียวเท่านั้น ยังเป็น “ศิลป์” อีกด้วย
ผู้เขียนอุตสาหะ รวบรวมข้อมูลที่เป็นวิทยาศาสตร์เกี่ยวกับผลกระทบของหน้าจอ ต่อชีวิตของเด็กยุคปัจจุบัน แต่พบว่าข้อมูลเหล่านั้น มีค่อนข้างจำกัดจำเขี่ย แถมยังเป็นงานวิจัยในระดับที่ความน่าเชื่อถือหรือการนำไปประยุกต์ใช้ในสถานการณ์จริงต่ำ บ้างก็อ้างอิงมาจากการทดลองในสัตว์ทดลอง มิได้มาจากการทดลองในมนุษย์จริง ๆ (ซึ่งเป็นข้อจำกัดมาก ๆ ที่จะทดลองเรื่องแบบนี้ในมนุษย์เด็ก เพราะอาจขัดต่อจริยธรรมการวิจัย)
ด้วยข้อมูลที่จำกัดเช่นนี้ ข้อแนะนำการใช้หน้าจอ จากสมาคมกุมารแพทย์ชั้นนำ ว่าควรจำกัดชั่วโมงการใช้หน้าจอ และไม่ควรให้ใช้หน้าจอในเด็กกี่ขวบ นั้น มาจากข้อมูลทางการแพทย์จำนวนน้อย ส่วนใหญ่แล้วมาจาก ข้อคิดเห็น หรือ ความคิดเห็นโดยผู้เชี่ยวชาญเป็นส่วนใหญ่ ซึ่งผู้เขียนได้ไปสัมภาษณ์เหล่าผู้เชี่ยวชาญที่ออกคำแนะนำมา และยอมรับตามนั้นเช่นกัน
เช่นนี้เอง ในมุมผู้เขียน จึงเห็นว่า เราคงไม่สามารถหยุดกระแสอันถาโถม ของเทคโนโลยีต่าง ๆ ที่เข้ามา รวมทั้งการใช้หน้าจอ แทนที่จะห้ามปราม จึงเปลี่ยนมาเป็นเราหรือลูกของเราจะอยู่กับสิ่งเหล่านี้ได้อย่างไร อย่างปลอดภัย รวมทั้งใช้สื่อหน้าจออย่างไรให้เกิดประโยชน์แก่ตัวเด็กเองและคนในครอบครัว
ทัศนะสำคัญที่ได้จากผหนังสือเล่มนี้ องค์ประกอบหลักที่สำคัญ 3 ประการ ที่ทำให้เราหรือลูกเราใช้หน้าจอได้อย่างปลอดภัยและเกิดประโยชน์ได้หรือไม่ มีดังนี้
1. สื่อหน้าจอ
2. ผู้ดูหน้าจอ (โดยเฉพาะลูกของเรา)
3. สิ่งแวดล้อม (ในที่นี้หมายถึงครอบครัว)
การที่สื่อหน้าจอจะก่อให้เกิดปัญหาได้ นั้นเกิดจาก 3 องค์ประกอบนี้ ซึ่งมีปฏิสัมพันธ์กัน เกิดความไม่สมดุล
สำหรับหน้าจอ หน้าจอที่มีเนื้อหาบางอย่างที่ไม่เหมาะสมสามารถกระตุ้นให้เกิดปัญหาแก่เด็กได้ เช่นมีความรุนแรง ภาพหรือวิดีโอลามกอนาจาร เนื้อเรื่องที่ไม่เหมาะสมกับวัยเด็ก เป็นต้น หรือการใช้เวลาหมกมุ่นกับหน้าจอมากเกินไป จนอดหลับอดนอน หรือการกินอาหารขยะขณะดูจอ ย่อมเกิดผลเสียตามมาได้
ผู้ดูหน้าจอ หรือลูกของเรา ถ้าเขามีลักษณะพื้นฐานทางสมอง ที่ไวต่อผลกระทบจากการใช้หน้าจอ หรือเสพติดง่าย ซึ่งอาจเกิดจากกรรมพันธุ์ (genetics) หรือกระบวนการเหนือพันธุกรรม (epigenetics) ในที่นี้ผู้เขียนเปรียบเด็กเหล่านี้เหมือน ดอกกล้วยไม้ โดนอะไรนิดอะไรหน่อยก็ตาย ดังนั้น เด็กกลุ่มนี้ แม้หน้าจอ จะมีเนื้อหาเหมาะสม หรือดูจอไม่นาน ก็อาจเกิดผลเสียตามมา เกิดการเสพติดได้ง่าย ต่างจากเด็กที่เหมือนดอกแดนดีไลออน ที่ทนทาน ตายยาก ไม่ว่าหน้าจอ จะน่าหลงใหล หรือภาพรุนแรงเพียงใด เด็กเหล่านี้ก็ได้รับผลกระทบไม่มากนัก
สุดท้าย สิ่งแวดล้อม หรือครอบครัว การมีผู้ใหญ่หรือพ่อแม่ ช่วยดูแลลูกหลาน ขณะดูจอ เอาใจใส่ หมั่นซักถามแต่ไม่ซักไซร้ ไม่จับผิด ไม่สอดแนม แต่เป็นการให้ความร่วมมือซึ่งกันและกัน ในการดูหน้าจอของเด็ก ๆ เหล่านี้ สามารถช่วยให้เด็กปลอดภัยจากสื่อหน้าจอได้
ถ้าเราสามารถสร้างองค์ประกอบทั้ง 3 นี้ ให้เกิดความสมดุลขึ้นมาได้ เชื่อว่า การใช้หน้าจอของเราและลูก ๆ จะไม่ก่อให้เกิดปัญหาตามมา สามารถใช้หน้าจอได้อย่างสนุก เกิดประโยชน์ และมีความสุขในการใช้ชีวิตในยุคดิจิทัลนี้
ถ้าคุณคิดจะห้ามลูกดูจอ หรือ จะปล่อยอิสระเสรี ลองหาหนังสือเล่มนี้ มาอ่านดูครับ คุณจะได้มุมมองใหม่ ๆ มากขึ้น ทางสายกลางในการดูหน้าจอ เหมือนจะเป็นคำตอบที่ดี ที่หนังสือเล่มนี้ตอบคำถามให้เราครับ
ถ้าคุณหวังว่าจะได้คำตอบว่า “เราหรือลูกของเราควรใช้หน้าจอไม่เกินกี่ชั่วโมงต่อวันจึงจะปลอดภัย” หรือ “มีเทคนิคการใช้หน้าจออย่างไรให้เหมาะสมในครอบครัวยุคดิจิทัล” ขอตอบว่า หนังสือเล่มนี้ไม่ได้คำตอบเหล่านี้ชัด ๆ แก่เราครับ ผิดหวังเลยใช่ไหมครับ…
แม้หนังสือเล่มนี้ ไม่สามารถให้คำตอบแบบ “เป๊ะ ๆ” กับคำถามดังกล่าวได้ ผู้เขียน อันยา คาเมเนตซ์ ผู้เชี่ยวชาญด้านการศึกษาและเทคโนโลยี ได้เปิดมุมมองที่เรียกว่า “กว้างขวาง” มาก ๆ กับเรื่องสื่อหน้าจอ ที่มีผลกระทบต่อเด็ก พ่อแม่ รวมทั้งคนในครอบครัว
เราจะเห็นตั้งต้นจากชื่อหนังสือว่า “The Art of Screen Time” ซึ่งบ่งว่า แท้จริงแล้ว การใช้หน้าจอ มิใช่ เรื่องที่เป็นศาสตร์เพียงอย่างเดียวเท่านั้น ยังเป็น “ศิลป์” อีกด้วย
ผู้เขียนอุตสาหะ รวบรวมข้อมูลที่เป็นวิทยาศาสตร์เกี่ยวกับผลกระทบของหน้าจอ ต่อชีวิตของเด็กยุคปัจจุบัน แต่พบว่าข้อมูลเหล่านั้น มีค่อนข้างจำกัดจำเขี่ย แถมยังเป็นงานวิจัยในระดับที่ความน่าเชื่อถือหรือการนำไปประยุกต์ใช้ในสถานการณ์จริงต่ำ บ้างก็อ้างอิงมาจากการทดลองในสัตว์ทดลอง มิได้มาจากการทดลองในมนุษย์จริง ๆ (ซึ่งเป็นข้อจำกัดมาก ๆ ที่จะทดลองเรื่องแบบนี้ในมนุษย์เด็ก เพราะอาจขัดต่อจริยธรรมการวิจัย)
ด้วยข้อมูลที่จำกัดเช่นนี้ ข้อแนะนำการใช้หน้าจอ จากสมาคมกุมารแพทย์ชั้นนำ ว่าควรจำกัดชั่วโมงการใช้หน้าจอ และไม่ควรให้ใช้หน้าจอในเด็กกี่ขวบ นั้น มาจากข้อมูลทางการแพทย์จำนวนน้อย ส่วนใหญ่แล้วมาจาก ข้อคิดเห็น หรือ ความคิดเห็นโดยผู้เชี่ยวชาญเป็นส่วนใหญ่ ซึ่งผู้เขียนได้ไปสัมภาษณ์เหล่าผู้เชี่ยวชาญที่ออกคำแนะนำมา และยอมรับตามนั้นเช่นกัน
เช่นนี้เอง ในมุมผู้เขียน จึงเห็นว่า เราคงไม่สามารถหยุดกระแสอันถาโถม ของเทคโนโลยีต่าง ๆ ที่เข้ามา รวมทั้งการใช้หน้าจอ แทนที่จะห้ามปราม จึงเปลี่ยนมาเป็นเราหรือลูกของเราจะอยู่กับสิ่งเหล่านี้ได้อย่างไร อย่างปลอดภัย รวมทั้งใช้สื่อหน้าจออย่างไรให้เกิดประโยชน์แก่ตัวเด็กเองและคนในครอบครัว
ทัศนะสำคัญที่ได้จากผหนังสือเล่มนี้ องค์ประกอบหลักที่สำคัญ 3 ประการ ที่ทำให้เราหรือลูกเราใช้หน้าจอได้อย่างปลอดภัยและเกิดประโยชน์ได้หรือไม่ มีดังนี้
1. สื่อหน้าจอ
2. ผู้ดูหน้าจอ (โดยเฉพาะลูกของเรา)
3. สิ่งแวดล้อม (ในที่นี้หมายถึงครอบครัว)
การที่สื่อหน้าจอจะก่อให้เกิดปัญหาได้ นั้นเกิดจาก 3 องค์ประกอบนี้ ซึ่งมีปฏิสัมพันธ์กัน เกิดความไม่สมดุล
สำหรับหน้าจอ หน้าจอที่มีเนื้อหาบางอย่างที่ไม่เหมาะสมสามารถกระตุ้นให้เกิดปัญหาแก่เด็กได้ เช่นมีความรุนแรง ภาพหรือวิดีโอลามกอนาจาร เนื้อเรื่องที่ไม่เหมาะสมกับวัยเด็ก เป็นต้น หรือการใช้เวลาหมกมุ่นกับหน้าจอมากเกินไป จนอดหลับอดนอน หรือการกินอาหารขยะขณะดูจอ ย่อมเกิดผลเสียตามมาได้
ผู้ดูหน้าจอ หรือลูกของเรา ถ้าเขามีลักษณะพื้นฐานทางสมอง ที่ไวต่อผลกระทบจากการใช้หน้าจอ หรือเสพติดง่าย ซึ่งอาจเกิดจากกรรมพันธุ์ (genetics) หรือกระบวนการเหนือพันธุกรรม (epigenetics) ในที่นี้ผู้เขียนเปรียบเด็กเหล่านี้เหมือน ดอกกล้วยไม้ โดนอะไรนิดอะไรหน่อยก็ตาย ดังนั้น เด็กกลุ่มนี้ แม้หน้าจอ จะมีเนื้อหาเหมาะสม หรือดูจอไม่นาน ก็อาจเกิดผลเสียตามมา เกิดการเสพติดได้ง่าย ต่างจากเด็กที่เหมือนดอกแดนดีไลออน ที่ทนทาน ตายยาก ไม่ว่าหน้าจอ จะน่าหลงใหล หรือภาพรุนแรงเพียงใด เด็กเหล่านี้ก็ได้รับผลกระทบไม่มากนัก
สุดท้าย สิ่งแวดล้อม หรือครอบครัว การมีผู้ใหญ่หรือพ่อแม่ ช่วยดูแลลูกหลาน ขณะดูจอ เอาใจใส่ หมั่นซักถามแต่ไม่ซักไซร้ ไม่จับผิด ไม่สอดแนม แต่เป็นการให้ความร่วมมือซึ่งกันและกัน ในการดูหน้าจอของเด็ก ๆ เหล่านี้ สามารถช่วยให้เด็กปลอดภัยจากสื่อหน้าจอได้
ถ้าเราสามารถสร้างองค์ประกอบทั้ง 3 นี้ ให้เกิดความสมดุลขึ้นมาได้ เชื่อว่า การใช้หน้าจอของเราและลูก ๆ จะไม่ก่อให้เกิดปัญหาตามมา สามารถใช้หน้าจอได้อย่างสนุก เกิดประโยชน์ และมีความสุขในการใช้ชีวิตในยุคดิจิทัลนี้
ถ้าคุณคิดจะห้ามลูกดูจอ หรือ จะปล่อยอิสระเสรี ลองหาหนังสือเล่มนี้ มาอ่านดูครับ คุณจะได้มุมมองใหม่ ๆ มากขึ้น ทางสายกลางในการดูหน้าจอ เหมือนจะเป็นคำตอบที่ดี ที่หนังสือเล่มนี้ตอบคำถามให้เราครับ
March 23, 2022
I don't have children, but I'm interested enough in digital minimalism to give this one a shake. I'm glad I did! There were some unique perspectives brought on by the parental lens applied here. The emphasis on watching media together and discussing it was particularly interesting. My parents and I religiously watch and discuss Great British Bake Off and it very much feels like a version of what was advised here.
I get the feeling that Kamenetz shied away from some topics that would be more inflammatory to her audience and gave them a brief overview (see: the oddly brief discussion about explicit content online). That said, she did still talk about it to some extent, just not as much as, say, kids having parasocial relationships with fictional characters or AI.
There were some topics that, like in Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked, I wish had had more time/discussion. Fandom culture, for example, is something that kept me hugely tethered to tumblr for years after that website ceased to function properly (if it ever did, lol), but it was only offhandedly mentioned and framed in a wholesale positive way. Don't get me wrong, I loved/love fanfic, but I think there's a little more nuance to the conversation than "kids are creating things for stuff they like = good" without examining how certain aspects of fandom can hamper creativity. Maybe this is just a sign I should read a book about fandom.
Also, very little discussion of YouTube????????? Second-most viewed website in the world?????? Weird.
I enjoyed the sections talking about parents' methods for raising their children with technology and was interested to see that a good deal of it matched up with my parents' sensibilities (e.g. time-based limits except on weekends/vacations). I was also interested in the discussion of how technology affects infants specifically and the arbitrary "no screens until two" rule.
Overall a good one and possibly my favorite on this topic so far thanks in part to the level-headed framing of the conversation rather than scare tactics about melting kids' brains.
I get the feeling that Kamenetz shied away from some topics that would be more inflammatory to her audience and gave them a brief overview (see: the oddly brief discussion about explicit content online). That said, she did still talk about it to some extent, just not as much as, say, kids having parasocial relationships with fictional characters or AI.
There were some topics that, like in Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked, I wish had had more time/discussion. Fandom culture, for example, is something that kept me hugely tethered to tumblr for years after that website ceased to function properly (if it ever did, lol), but it was only offhandedly mentioned and framed in a wholesale positive way. Don't get me wrong, I loved/love fanfic, but I think there's a little more nuance to the conversation than "kids are creating things for stuff they like = good" without examining how certain aspects of fandom can hamper creativity. Maybe this is just a sign I should read a book about fandom.
Also, very little discussion of YouTube????????? Second-most viewed website in the world?????? Weird.
I enjoyed the sections talking about parents' methods for raising their children with technology and was interested to see that a good deal of it matched up with my parents' sensibilities (e.g. time-based limits except on weekends/vacations). I was also interested in the discussion of how technology affects infants specifically and the arbitrary "no screens until two" rule.
Overall a good one and possibly my favorite on this topic so far thanks in part to the level-headed framing of the conversation rather than scare tactics about melting kids' brains.
January 6, 2024
Description: Early in The Art of Screen Time: How Your Family Can Balance Digital Media & Real Life (2018), author and NPR’s education correspondent Anya Kamenetz introduces her variation of food writer Michael Pullen’s adage: Enjoy Screens. Not too much. Mostly with others. In brief, screens are like food. What follows, then, in Part I, is an examination of kids’ access to and use of screens in the form of television and hand-held devices.
Kamenetz discusses topics such as the amount of time kids are using a screen, and its potential negative impact on their sleep and overall health, i.e., obesity and mental state. She seems to give short shrift to issues related to brain development, social emotional development, attention or focus, and even the content of what kids are viewing on a screen.
In Part II, Kamenetz turns her attention to parents and their use of devices. Here, she underscores the social benefits of social media for parents—their ability to connect to like-minded individuals and organizations, and find information and support. She highlights the challenges and realities of parenting in a digital age. Part II is readable, engaging, and thought provoking.
After 220 pages Kamenetz presents the final chapter: Too long, Didn’t Read: The Art of Screen Time in Five Minutes in which she returns to her version of Pullen’s maxim: Enjoy Screens. Not too much. Mostly with others, and offers 10 actionable steps for parents and families. At four pages, this, to me, is the essence and heart of the book, and could have effectively served as the book’s organizational structure. I encourage readers to start with this chapter and then work their way back through the book.
Throughout the book Kamenetz’s discussions, arguments, and suggestions are grounded in anecdotes, survey data from “hundreds of parents,” interviews with tech experts and academics, and are her attempt to cut through “inconclusive studies and overblown claims.”
In the end, I found the book offered a compelling yet cursory examination of what is arguably a complex issue. Painting with broad brush and suggesting that screen time “will look different for different families” left me wanting.
Kamenetz discusses topics such as the amount of time kids are using a screen, and its potential negative impact on their sleep and overall health, i.e., obesity and mental state. She seems to give short shrift to issues related to brain development, social emotional development, attention or focus, and even the content of what kids are viewing on a screen.
In Part II, Kamenetz turns her attention to parents and their use of devices. Here, she underscores the social benefits of social media for parents—their ability to connect to like-minded individuals and organizations, and find information and support. She highlights the challenges and realities of parenting in a digital age. Part II is readable, engaging, and thought provoking.
After 220 pages Kamenetz presents the final chapter: Too long, Didn’t Read: The Art of Screen Time in Five Minutes in which she returns to her version of Pullen’s maxim: Enjoy Screens. Not too much. Mostly with others, and offers 10 actionable steps for parents and families. At four pages, this, to me, is the essence and heart of the book, and could have effectively served as the book’s organizational structure. I encourage readers to start with this chapter and then work their way back through the book.
Throughout the book Kamenetz’s discussions, arguments, and suggestions are grounded in anecdotes, survey data from “hundreds of parents,” interviews with tech experts and academics, and are her attempt to cut through “inconclusive studies and overblown claims.”
In the end, I found the book offered a compelling yet cursory examination of what is arguably a complex issue. Painting with broad brush and suggesting that screen time “will look different for different families” left me wanting.
July 19, 2022
I had high hopes for this book, written by an education journalist for NPR whose articles I generally enjoy. I expected a lot, which is perhaps why I feel so let down.
The first half of the book didn't tell me much I didn't already know: Screen time can have negative effects on kids . . . maybe? We can't really do hardcore studies for ethics reasons, and a lot of the research that's out there is fuzzy at best. Everyone seems to be taking a better-safe-than-sorry approach, including the AAP, whose infamous "no screens under age 2" guideline was apparently totally arbitrary and not backed by evidence.
The problem with this approach is that it leaves parents feeling guilty for offering any screen time at all. Who knows where the invisible line is that could cause screens to wreck your kid forever? It's this question that Kamenetz tackles in the second half of the book, and it's here that I was disappointed. Although she does away with the guilt many parents experience, her takeaways aren't anything most of us haven't heard already:
"Try to engage in shows with your kids."
"Educational apps aren't always all that educational."
"No screens before bed or at the dinner table."
"Encourage creativity using technology and learning skills like coding."
This book offered less of a conclusion for parents trying to balance screen time in a positive way and more of the same shoulder-shrugging we see everywhere. I wanted the author to offer her own opinion more strongly, to take a stance rather than continuing to quote experts with opposing viewpoints.
It's not a bad introduction to thoughtfulness around screens if you're a parent who has given literally no thought to the topic. It's pretty repetitive for parents who have already explored the options for screen time with any amount of intentionality.
The first half of the book didn't tell me much I didn't already know: Screen time can have negative effects on kids . . . maybe? We can't really do hardcore studies for ethics reasons, and a lot of the research that's out there is fuzzy at best. Everyone seems to be taking a better-safe-than-sorry approach, including the AAP, whose infamous "no screens under age 2" guideline was apparently totally arbitrary and not backed by evidence.
The problem with this approach is that it leaves parents feeling guilty for offering any screen time at all. Who knows where the invisible line is that could cause screens to wreck your kid forever? It's this question that Kamenetz tackles in the second half of the book, and it's here that I was disappointed. Although she does away with the guilt many parents experience, her takeaways aren't anything most of us haven't heard already:
"Try to engage in shows with your kids."
"Educational apps aren't always all that educational."
"No screens before bed or at the dinner table."
"Encourage creativity using technology and learning skills like coding."
This book offered less of a conclusion for parents trying to balance screen time in a positive way and more of the same shoulder-shrugging we see everywhere. I wanted the author to offer her own opinion more strongly, to take a stance rather than continuing to quote experts with opposing viewpoints.
It's not a bad introduction to thoughtfulness around screens if you're a parent who has given literally no thought to the topic. It's pretty repetitive for parents who have already explored the options for screen time with any amount of intentionality.
March 27, 2019
This book caught my eye at the library and so I thought I’d check it out. I’ve never been worried about my kids and screens. It’s the reality of this world. Screens are part of my work and their school and I strongly believe that if they don’t know how to use technology it will set them behind. But I have family that feels differently and you can feel their judgment on us.
We rarely use a screen as a babysitter. And we set consistent limits on YouTube and the like. But we (the grownups) often have the TV on as background noise and we’re regularly reading on our phones (news, books, etc; but you my not know what I’m reading from afar). It would be hypocritical to say “no screen” to the kids when I have a screen in my hand.
I really like that this is not just the author’s opinion but is many opinions, including those of actual experts (e.g., medical doctors, psychologists, etc) some conflicting but still well researched.
Overall, I reflected on my own screen usage in their presence (it may not change but I’m more aware) and I was able to get some good ideas that go with our existing parenting style. I don’t want to police my children - now or in the future, unless they give me a reason to not not trust them. But engaging with them about media use (be it YouTube, Netflix or a video game) similar to the way we engage about a soccer game or concert really makes sense.
Advocating curiosity in an undoubtedly tech savvy world rather than fear will only help my kids and we can’t escape the fact that we live in an internet based world. So let’s worry more about doing something good and useful with that time instead of exactly how much time we spend at the screen.
We rarely use a screen as a babysitter. And we set consistent limits on YouTube and the like. But we (the grownups) often have the TV on as background noise and we’re regularly reading on our phones (news, books, etc; but you my not know what I’m reading from afar). It would be hypocritical to say “no screen” to the kids when I have a screen in my hand.
I really like that this is not just the author’s opinion but is many opinions, including those of actual experts (e.g., medical doctors, psychologists, etc) some conflicting but still well researched.
Overall, I reflected on my own screen usage in their presence (it may not change but I’m more aware) and I was able to get some good ideas that go with our existing parenting style. I don’t want to police my children - now or in the future, unless they give me a reason to not not trust them. But engaging with them about media use (be it YouTube, Netflix or a video game) similar to the way we engage about a soccer game or concert really makes sense.
Advocating curiosity in an undoubtedly tech savvy world rather than fear will only help my kids and we can’t escape the fact that we live in an internet based world. So let’s worry more about doing something good and useful with that time instead of exactly how much time we spend at the screen.
April 28, 2020
The tagline of this book says "How Your Family Can Balance Digital Media & Real Life", but there's not much insights about how you can actually do this. Instead, the bulk of the discussion is about how schools were using EdTech, and by that extension, screen time - in schools. It's a digression and should probably be the topic of another book.
Certain parts of the book are terribly hard to read (i.e. boring) because they are like a long blog post filled with research statistics and reporting, often accompanied by the author's own "unscientific survey" and anecdotes.
"A lot of research, in order to get published, they focus on the harm."
This particular quote by Dan Romer, director of the Adolescent Communication Institute at the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, probably underlined the author's mindset.
Central to Romer's observation is that experiments that show correlations between screens and negative effects receive more attention than experiments that show nothing conclusive, and those that show benefits are less likely to be conceived or conducted in the first place.
It is with this belief that the author tends to diss research that is in favour of the former.
Using the example of "The Mom with Her Phone at the Playground", the author raised concerns about distracted parenting, but then quickly sounded defensive in the rest of the chapter (Chapter 7).
Certain parts of the book are terribly hard to read (i.e. boring) because they are like a long blog post filled with research statistics and reporting, often accompanied by the author's own "unscientific survey" and anecdotes.
"A lot of research, in order to get published, they focus on the harm."
This particular quote by Dan Romer, director of the Adolescent Communication Institute at the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, probably underlined the author's mindset.
Central to Romer's observation is that experiments that show correlations between screens and negative effects receive more attention than experiments that show nothing conclusive, and those that show benefits are less likely to be conceived or conducted in the first place.
It is with this belief that the author tends to diss research that is in favour of the former.
Using the example of "The Mom with Her Phone at the Playground", the author raised concerns about distracted parenting, but then quickly sounded defensive in the rest of the chapter (Chapter 7).
May 12, 2018
Full disclosure: I am childless. Take that as you will.
I found this to be a fabulous book that walks a middle path between technophobia and technoutopianism. The author is a mother and reporter who did a lot of research and interviewed experts holding a variety of opinions. She also surveyed hundreds of parents and seemed to have interviewed dozens of them.
What emerges is a book that carefully lays out the evidence for the harms and benefits of screen time, distinguishes between types of screen time and asks parents to inventory and be wise about their own screen time. The book has an extensive notes section and a good index.
Throughout the book Ms. Kamenetz emphasizes the desirability of parental involvement while recognizing limits on parents due to work and stress. She offers practical suggestions for talking about what kids are doing on the internet without putting them under surveillance. There are also joint activities proposed. Along the way she examines types of parenting and questions the extreme "attachment parenting" that has generated a lot of "mom shaming."
If you're looking for a clear-headed examination of issues surrounding children's use of electronic devices, tips on parenting kids in a digital age or even a reality check on your digital usage, I think this book is for you.
I found this to be a fabulous book that walks a middle path between technophobia and technoutopianism. The author is a mother and reporter who did a lot of research and interviewed experts holding a variety of opinions. She also surveyed hundreds of parents and seemed to have interviewed dozens of them.
What emerges is a book that carefully lays out the evidence for the harms and benefits of screen time, distinguishes between types of screen time and asks parents to inventory and be wise about their own screen time. The book has an extensive notes section and a good index.
Throughout the book Ms. Kamenetz emphasizes the desirability of parental involvement while recognizing limits on parents due to work and stress. She offers practical suggestions for talking about what kids are doing on the internet without putting them under surveillance. There are also joint activities proposed. Along the way she examines types of parenting and questions the extreme "attachment parenting" that has generated a lot of "mom shaming."
If you're looking for a clear-headed examination of issues surrounding children's use of electronic devices, tips on parenting kids in a digital age or even a reality check on your digital usage, I think this book is for you.
October 24, 2019
As many others have shared, I found this book to be a calm and well reasoned approach to finding a way to live in a screen dominant world. While this book is definitely geared towards families with children, I do think it is a worthwhile read for those without kids or in other stages of life. I thought the layout of topics she covered was wide, and that the chapters flowed in a way that made sense. Just when I would start to think "Ok, but what about...?" the next chapter would address that issue.
Issues covered in this include management of screen time (should you do it via time limits or contents, should it be reward based, should it be free from scrutiny), education and screens (including apps that can be used at home, and how education is pragmatically being used in many classrooms for good and bad), how to bond through screen time, and parental use and guidance.
I think my review would be closer to 4.5 out of 5 stars. Many people knocked stars off because of her criticism of Sherry Turkle, who I have not read. However, I found the data that Kamenetz presented about how we just DON'T know what kind of damage our new social, screen-centric society is causing to be very compelling. Overall, an excellent and quick read for anyone (aka everyone), who exists in a world with screens and wants to examine their choices.
Issues covered in this include management of screen time (should you do it via time limits or contents, should it be reward based, should it be free from scrutiny), education and screens (including apps that can be used at home, and how education is pragmatically being used in many classrooms for good and bad), how to bond through screen time, and parental use and guidance.
I think my review would be closer to 4.5 out of 5 stars. Many people knocked stars off because of her criticism of Sherry Turkle, who I have not read. However, I found the data that Kamenetz presented about how we just DON'T know what kind of damage our new social, screen-centric society is causing to be very compelling. Overall, an excellent and quick read for anyone (aka everyone), who exists in a world with screens and wants to examine their choices.
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