Why wanting to eliminate screens is a mistake: learning to use them intelligently

The illusion of total screen removal

An impossible reality to ignore

Imagine for a moment being able to completely eliminate screens from your child's life. No television, no tablet, no smartphone, no computer. This idyllic vision quickly clashes with the reality of our contemporary society. Screens are everywhere: in schools where interactive boards have replaced blackboards, in libraries where catalogs are now digital, in museums where guided tours are conducted through apps, and even in medical offices where forms are filled out on tablets.

According to a study by INSEE published in 2023, 95% of French households own at least one screen connected to the Internet. This figure illustrates how much our environment is permeated with digital technologies. Wanting to completely shield a child from this reality is akin to preparing them for a world that no longer exists.

The unexpected consequences of total prohibition

A strict ban on screens can lead to several perverse effects that parents do not always anticipate. First, it creates a disproportionate allure for the forbidden object. Human psychology, particularly that of children, often works paradoxically: what is prohibited becomes fascinating. A child deprived of screens will develop an exacerbated curiosity, even an obsession, for these mysterious objects that everyone talks about except them.

Secondly, this avoidance strategy does not prepare the child to manage their relationship with screens when they are inevitably confronted with them. In adolescence or adulthood, faced with sudden and unlimited access, they may not have developed the necessary self-regulation skills. It’s a bit like teaching someone to swim by keeping them away from water for years.

Thirdly, the child may feel socially excluded. Peer discussions often revolve around shared digital content, popular video games, or viral videos. Being unable to participate in these exchanges can generate feelings of isolation and social inadequacy.

Understanding before acting: the key to a balanced approach

Screens are not inherently bad

It is essential to deconstruct the myth that screens are inherently harmful to children. A screen is a tool, just like a book or a pencil. It is the use we make of it that determines its impact. A tablet can be used to passively watch videos for hours, but it can also enable learning a new language, developing programming skills, creating digital artistic works, or keeping in touch with distant relatives.

Current scientific research significantly nuances alarmist discourses. While some studies point to risks associated with excessive and unregulated exposure, others highlight the potential benefits of reasoned and guided use. The emerging consensus emphasizes the importance of context, content quality, and parental guidance rather than simply the amount of time spent in front of a screen.

Digital skills: an asset for the future

In an increasingly digitized professional world, digital skills have become essential. Mastering computer tools, knowing how to search for and verify information online, understanding the basics of programming, or simply being comfortable with digital interfaces are major assets for our children's future professional integration.

By depriving a child of all contact with screens, we risk creating a digital handicap that could harm their education and professional life. School curricula are increasingly integrating digital content, and many future jobs do not yet exist but will certainly rely on advanced technological skills.

Media education: training informed users

Developing critical thinking in the face of digital content

Rather than prohibiting, let’s train our children to become critical and thoughtful users. Media and information education is a fundamental pillar of this approach. It aims to develop in the child the ability to analyze, question, and understand the content they consume.

This involves regular discussions about what the child watches or does on screens. Ask them questions: “What did you learn today on your tablet?”, “Why do you think this advertisement appears here?”, “How could you verify if this information is true?”. These exchanges gradually develop their critical sense and ability to take a step back from digital content.

Accompany rather than monitor

Parental guidance plays a crucial role in learning healthy screen use. It is not about controlling every minute spent in front of a screen, but about creating a framework of trust where the child feels free to share their discoveries and digital questions.

Watch content together, play video games as a family, explore educational apps side by side. These shared moments allow you to understand your child's digital universe, guide them towards quality content, and gradually pass on the keys to autonomous and responsible use.

To deepen your knowledge and acquire concrete tools, DYNSEO offers a comprehensive online training titled “Raising Awareness About Screens: Understanding, Acting, Supporting”. This training guides you step by step to understand the issues surrounding screens, identify real risks, and implement effective educational strategies. It is aimed at parents, teachers, and all childhood professionals concerned with guiding young people towards fulfilling digital use.

The golden rules for intelligent screen use

Establish a clear and coherent framework

Intelligent screen use relies on clear rules that are understood and accepted by all family members. These rules should be adapted to the child's age and evolve with them. They concern several aspects: the times when use is allowed, the daily or weekly duration, the types of accessible content, and the areas of the home where screens are present.

The important thing is that these rules are explained and not imposed arbitrarily. A child who understands why they are asked not to use a screen during meals or before bedtime will be more inclined to respect these limits. Involve them in the development of these rules to encourage their adherence.

Prioritize quality over quantity

Not all minutes spent in front of a screen are equal. An hour spent on an interactive educational game does not have the same impact as an hour of passive video watching. Learn to distinguish between content that stimulates learning, creativity, and reflection from that which merely captures attention without adding value.

Well-designed educational apps, age-appropriate documentaries, games that develop logic or coordination, and digital creation tools are all examples of qualitative uses. Conversely, repetitive content, disguised advertisements, and endlessly algorithmically generated videos deserve particular vigilance.

Integrate active breaks

One of the main criticisms of screens is the sedentariness they induce. To counter this effect, integrate active breaks into your child's screen time. These regular interruptions allow for movement, resting the eyes, and maintaining sufficient physical activity.

This is precisely the innovative approach adopted by the COCO PENSE and COCO BOUGE application developed by DYNSEO. This unique educational program automatically imposes a sports break every 15 minutes of play. During these breaks, the child is invited to perform fun physical exercises before being able to resume their digital activities. This ingenious mechanism allows for enjoying the benefits of educational games while preserving physical activity and preventing addictive behaviors. Discover COCO PENSE and COCO BOUGE

Building a healthy digital family culture

Parental example: the first educational lever

Children learn more by observing than by listening. Your own relationship with screens profoundly influences the one your child will develop. If you compulsively check your smartphone during meals, if you spend your evenings glued to the television, if you respond to your work emails at all hours, the implicit message you send contradicts any discourse you might have on moderation.

Honestly reflect on your own digital habits. Are you able to spend an evening without checking your phone? Do you often look at screens in the presence of your children? Do you use screens as a reward or as a way to calm your child? This introspection is the first step towards a healthier digital family culture.

Create screen-free rituals

To ensure that the absence of screens is not experienced as deprivation, create regular family moments dedicated to other activities. Shared meals without phones, game nights, weekend walks, and bedtime reading sessions are all opportunities to strengthen bonds and show that life is not just about screens.

These rituals become even more valuable when they are regular and protected. They provide breathing spaces in an often hyper-connected daily life and allow everyone to refocus on what is essential: authentic human relationships.

Open dialogue about digital use

Maintain an open and non-judgmental dialogue about digital use within your family. Sincerely show interest in what your child does on their screens, the creators they follow, the games they enjoy. This benevolent curiosity creates a climate of trust that facilitates discussions on more sensitive topics such as cyberbullying, inappropriate content, or interactions with strangers online.

Do not hesitate to share your own questions and difficulties regarding digital use. Acknowledging that you too sometimes struggle with the allure of screens humanizes the process and shows your child that regulation is a lifelong learning experience for everyone.

The benefits of controlled screen use

Development of transversal skills

A guided and thoughtful use of screens can contribute to the development of many skills. Strategic video games stimulate planning and problem-solving. Creative applications encourage artistic expression and innovation. Educational platforms reinforce school learning in a playful way. Communication tools develop relational skills at a distance.

These transversal skills, sometimes referred to as soft skills, are increasingly valued in the professional world. Creativity, adaptability, collaboration, communication: screens, when used well, can contribute to their development.

Openness to the world and access to knowledge

The Internet offers unprecedented access to human knowledge. A curious child can explore the far reaches of the universe through space simulations, discover distant cultures via documentaries, learn the basics of any discipline through quality tutorials. This openness to the world constitutes an extraordinary wealth, provided it is guided and supervised.

Screens can also allow geographically isolated children or those with reduced mobility to access educational and cultural resources that they would not otherwise have access to. They democratize access to knowledge and can help reduce certain inequalities.

Preparation for the challenges of the 21st century

Today's children will live in a deeply digital world. Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, connected objects, automation: the technologies that will shape their adult lives are emerging. By teaching them now to interact thoughtfully with digital tools, we prepare them to navigate this future with discernment.

This preparation is not limited to technical skills. It also includes understanding the ethical, environmental, and social issues related to digital technology. Training responsible digital citizens, capable of questioning algorithms, protecting their privacy, and contributing positively to the digital space is a major educational challenge.

Resources and support for parents and professionals

Training to better support

In the face of the complexity of digital issues, it is normal to sometimes feel helpless. Many resources exist to help parents and childhood professionals better understand and support young people's digital use.

Choosing suitable tools

The choice of applications and content offered to your child deserves particular attention. Prefer tools designed by education professionals that respect child development and incorporate regulatory mechanisms.

The applications developed by DYNSEO, such as COCO PENSE and COCO BOUGE, illustrate this responsible approach. Designed in collaboration with speech therapists, psychologists, and childhood professionals, they offer quality educational content while integrating features that prevent excesses. The mandatory sports break every 15 minutes is a perfect example: it transforms a potential constraint into an opportunity for movement and play.

Conclusion: towards informed digital parenting

Wanting to eliminate screens from our children's lives is not only unrealistic but also counterproductive. This avoidance approach does not prepare them to live in the world as it is and does not impart the skills they will need to navigate the digital universe with discernment.

The alternative is to adopt an active educational stance: understand the issues, establish an appropriate framework, support usage, set an example, and maintain an open dialogue. This informed digital parenting requires more effort than a simple prohibition, but it yields far more lasting results.

Screens are neither enemies to be fought nor unconditional allies. They are powerful tools that, in the hands of trained and responsible users, can enrich learning, open horizons, and contribute to our children's development. Our role as parents and educators is to guide them towards this mastery, not to deprive them of it.

By educating yourself, choosing suitable tools like those offered by DYNSEO, and cultivating a trusting relationship with your children around digital use, you give them the best chances of becoming adults capable of using technology thoughtfully, creatively, and balanced. This is the true challenge of screen education in the 21st century.