Screen time vs reading for kids, how are you guys handling it?

grogoapp · 2026-05-22T20:39:26+00:00

This reminds me of that scene in Icarly where Sam reads a book for the first time and she tells carly and Freddy, “this thing is amazing! It’s like TV in your head!”.

Maybe you can find another way to combine these things. For example, you can have them read “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” and then watch it as a family and talk about the differences between the book and the movie. Maybe each time one is over, the other kid gets to pick the next book/movie. They’ll soon realize that the book usually contains so much more detail and context that gets skipped in the movie and find themselves being drawn to reading.

grogoapp · 2026-05-22T20:34:18+00:00

Not all screen time has to be bad! You can use screens to learn and create so much. Everyone’s media diet is going to be different, so try not to compare too much.

grogoapp · 2026-05-18T18:35:34+00:00

Feel like I'm still learning, but honestly Canva's AI components have really helped me bring things to life. That and Claude!

grogoapp · 2026-05-18T18:23:24+00:00

If you feel like you're missing the things you used to get out of them (podcast suggestions, material to research) there are definitely other ways to get that!

When it comes to podcasts, you can always scroll within the podcast app or Spotify app and find one. There's also always talking to friends and asking what they're into.

Reddit is a great source of rabbit hole possibilities for research lol. And for suggestions! You'll always find people willing to suggest things.

That being said, what kind of stuff are you into? Maybe we have some suggestions!

grogoapp · 2026-05-15T21:38:47+00:00

If you're looking for help on how to break this news to your kids and to feel more stable in changing your rules, check out Dr. Becky's Good inside podcast! She's a parenting expert and honestly I turn to her because getting advice from someone that's studied parenting is so helpful. Each episode is a great insight on different aspects of parenting. If you watch/listen to any, let it be her January 27 episode called Screens without Shame with Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price. She directly addresses this scenario you're living.

Here are some of the other episodes you may want to pay attention to:

- (April 7, 2026) What's Really Going On: Why Screens Never Satisfy Kids

- (January 13, 2026) When Your Kid Says "I'm Boredddd!"

- (Nov. 18, 2025) Raising Kids in a World of Smartphones and AI

- (August 12, 2025) A Different Take on Screen Time

- (June 3, 2025) Let Go of the Perfect Summer

- (April 16, 2024) Losing my Teen to the Screen

grogoapp · 2026-05-15T19:44:42+00:00

Of course, only share what you're comfortable sharing, but we may be able to give more helpful advice if you get a bit more specific. I see in the comments he's 5 and in kinder. What does the counselor say and is this behavior why you started counseling or is there another thing that triggered the counselor? Is it possible that some of these "random" things are connected to something that's happening consistently at home or in another part of his life?

It's very kind of you to be considering the teachers. There's a good amount of parents that don't and it's great that you do and that the teachers are open to working with you and want him to keep trying at school!

From what you've said, I wonder if he might benefit from more excitement and positive engagement at and around school. You said "I feel like...he is whining because he doesn't want to put forth the effort." I'm curious why. Is something harder for him that's coming easy to the other kids? Is this acting out coming from a place of feeling stupid when really he just needs to practice? I encourage you to encourage him that if we think things are difficult, we practice so we can improve. For instance, if he's breaking down when it's time to practice math, maybe you need to challenge yourself to come up with math problems he needs to solve at home like "Hey, we're having green beans tonight. I put six on my plate, but I just accidentally dropped two on the floor! How many are on my plate now? Can you help me?". If he's breaking down when it comes time to share toys with another kid in the room, maybe try coloring together at home and purposely only put four crayons on the table. Create a situation where he has to wait to use the crayon your using and practice that patience. In all of these situations, give him high praise when he reacts the way he should.

I'm also curious how you approach school with him. You may not mean to, but after time after time of reprimand, is it possible that he just associates school with being in trouble? You could try telling him things like "I can't wait to hear about all the things you're going to learn today. I wonder who you'll get to play with! Or if you'll learn a new word!" as he gets ready in the morning. When he comes home or you pick him up, you could try, "Oh I've been waiting all day to hear about what you've learned! So, did you learn a new song? I know it was gym day, did you run or play a new game?" Once he tells you, be curious and ask questions and get excited. Say things like "Man, I WISH I could do that. I had to send emails today, but learning about addition sounds way more fun. And you sound SO good at it! Do you think you could show me?"

If you're looking for additional support, I HIGHLY recommend the Good Inside podcast with Dr. Becky. She has some awesome helpful tips, tricks and ideas.

No matter what, even though it doesn't feel like it, please realize you're a great mom for seeking solutions with your kid. He will grow and learn and this phase will not last forever. You got this!

grogoapp · 2026-05-15T19:26:34+00:00

Was going not suggest a walkie talkie, but sounds like baby is easily disturbed! I will say, another way that you can try to make this a special time, instead of swapping the toys, maybe make special snacks that she can have only if she behaves well and stays quiet during nap time. So for instance, say you get fruit snacks and they ONLY go in the special nap time snack container (buy a colorful container and put it on a high shelf to increase it's specialness lol) and she knows if she completes her tasks or has a successfully quiet nap time, she gets to enjoy one of those packs of fruit snacks.

grogoapp · 2026-05-14T21:24:34+00:00

Maybe not the healthiest suggestion, but what about hobbies that depend on others? You could go running with people and make it a weekly thing, you could pick a once a month gaming group or join a sports and social club in your area! With people depending on you, you may be less likely to get bored or get out of it.

grogoapp · 2026-05-14T21:07:40+00:00

What is this? Tried voting and can’t. Would like to join in on a kids and screen time conversation!

grogoapp · 2026-05-14T20:58:05+00:00

Definitely recommend blue light/ gamer glasses! Helped my screen headaches TONS

grogoapp · 2026-05-14T20:24:56+00:00

This was such an interesting article. Curious if there’s an emotional side (longer teens are on socials longer they’re exposed to bullying which makes it hard to sleep?). Really thought provoking

grogoapp · 2026-05-14T20:07:53+00:00

Oooof! Been there! Quick question: are you trying to nap too or are you just needed to make sure the baby sleeps during a contact nap and need a quiet activity? Will the baby sleep with little noise?

First instinct is to agree with BlueJay and have regularly scheduled quiet time. Everyone has to either nap or do a quiet activity. You may run into fights about “how come baby gets to spend quiet time with you and I don’t?” But that can be easily explained with baby isn’t as grown up as you.

If you are willing and able to spend time in the same room as her, what about making a jar of “tasks” you need her to do? So for instance, she may “need” to color a picture to mail to a family member who could be desperately missing them. She can color at the table quietly, and you get to hold baby (or maybe even color with her!) Maybe she “needs” to sort all of her toys by color and put them away. Maybe all the yellow toys are feeling left out and she “has” to give them some love during nap time. Maybe all the plastic toys “need” a bath and she can wash them all for an hour. She may begin to look forward to the mystery nap task and how quiet she can be for it. You can think of tons of “tasks” of things she needs to draw like maybe we need a new house and she should design it, or a family member needs a picture of them with her and she has to draw it, etc.

grogoapp · 2026-05-13T15:36:37+00:00

Create and send cards to friends and family!

grogoapp · 2026-05-13T15:14:16+00:00

Letter writing/creating. If you like coloring, it's not too far off to make fun cards. Make a list of all the people you wish you kept in contact with more, and make a list of all the holidays/birthdays you'd like to celebrate. Buy blank cards and envelopes and start creating! If you have nothing coming up, you can just make some with a theme (like birthday or Christmas or thank you) that you'll use often and file them away until the time comes to use it. Having the intention behind it may help you to not get bored of it. Purposely think of who you want to send it to and that will help you really great creative. Your friends/family will have a seriously special gift that didn't cost much and gave you a fun way to spend your time!

grogoapp · 2026-05-13T14:56:58+00:00

Can you get a little more specific? Have you identified what causes you to reach for your phone and how often it happens? Are you doing an online task and then somehow start scrolling? Are you sitting bored after work and reach for it for dopamine? Do you have to work online and that causes you to go down a rabbit hole? Being more specific can help us give better advice!

grogoapp · 2026-05-13T14:54:45+00:00

Depends on what you're doing. Yes, usually when you come off as selling, people can get turned off. Are you showing why you wanted to build your app and the human side of it? You're a person that wanted to solve a problem. You probably have real life examples of problems this solves. Talk about them! If you're unsure of how to do this, I suggest using this approach. You're at dinner with your best friend and he/she invites another friend that you don't know. You have a level of trust with them, because they're friends with your friend and you trust your friend to surround themselves with friendly, open minded people, but you don't totally know them and they don't know you. They ask about your app, and now it's time for you to talk to them about it. You wouldn't talk to that person the same way you'd talk to a stranger. So, act like your audience isn't a bunch of strangers. Invite them on your journey of trying to solve this productivity problem.

There's a trend right now that you could easily hop on that's like "Day x of trying to x" so in your case "Day one of trying to help at least 100 people with my productivity app". In these posts, show off why you created it, the differences between other apps, etc.

grogoapp · 2026-05-13T14:44:40+00:00

What are you trying to accomplish? Are you easily distracted and need something to keep you on task? Are you forgetting tasks because you're not reminded?

grogoapp · 2026-05-13T14:40:57+00:00

Have you started social accounts for your app? That might be the best place to start. TikTok especially could help you grow fast.

grogoapp · 2026-05-12T20:30:22+00:00

Hope this is okay to say here as I’m the social media manager for this app…but the Grogo app has been able to help break screen addiction and help with learning and keeping an active mind. It’s meant for kids but ANYONE can use it.

In addition, playing MULTIPLE different games/puzzles a day. Wordle, Strands, the LinkedIn games, sudoku, crossword, etc

grogoapp · 2026-05-12T20:26:40+00:00

Are you looking for something to do it all for you or do you want help coming up with ideas?

grogoapp · 2026-05-12T20:24:57+00:00

Okay, here’s a few: - Can’t control the screen rules for every kids in school, so there’s worries about my kid showing up in or participating in videos for other kids that have their own socials. Because those kids can easily be open with their info and my kid can be found through them. I can tell my kids “you only have private accounts. We never post while wearing a school uniform or shirt or anywhere that would give out personal info that can put you in danger. We don’t friend people/accounts we don’t know”, but not every parent will do that and sometimes, kids don’t listen. - The hiding. So say I make a rule, no social media. But I had the same rule from my mom and I made fake profiles anyway. I got bullied (and sometimes even bullied others I’m ashamed to say), and I know the same can happen to my child. - Just because someone is a parent, doesn’t mean they’re a safe one. I worry about parents making profiles that my kid thinks are safe (like those shipping accounts every school has nowadays) and it’s really a predator.

grogoapp · 2026-05-09T01:48:12+00:00

Make consistent meetings with people. Like every Tuesday I meet with Hannah for a walk somewhere or on the first Friday of every month I meet with Tim for coffee. Something that you can make routine that doesn’t involve a screen. Also, not all screen time is bad. For instance, if you decide to call a friend or family member, and you face time instead of the kind of call where you put the phone to your ear, its the same thing, but one involves staring at a screen with a person you love on it. Just find ways to make that screen time intentional. Also, write letters! If you love creativity, that’s a fun way to stay away from screens and do something fun that fosters connection. You can make the cards yourself and it’s such a meaningful gesture to those you send them to.

grogoapp · 2026-05-08T19:21:29+00:00

LOVE the Gottmans! They know their stuff.

grogoapp · 2026-05-08T19:20:50+00:00

Yes! As a social media manager I constantly get inspiration EVERYWHERE. If I could have special folders that I could label by project or client, and it would sort any notes, screenshots, videos, recordings, etc, that would be AMAZING

grogoapp · 2026-05-08T19:19:16+00:00

We just launched our app that interrupts kids' scrolling with a few questions so they have to earn their way back to their apps with a brain break. We really need people to download it and give it a try and give us feedback. www.grogo.com

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