๐ฑ Screen Time and Educational Games: Finding the Balance
2026-04-02 ยท 7 min read
Screens are part of children's lives today, but the real question is not whether a child plays, it is how, when and what they play. The World Health Organization recommends that children under five have as little screen time as possible, and for that age group sedentary screen time should not exceed one hour a day. Older children need a balance between screens, sleep, movement and free play.
Choose games that build real skills, such as arithmetic, memory, religious knowledge or language, and avoid those that rely on constant prompts and repetitive rewards with no value. It is worth playing with your child the first time, so you understand what happens in the game and what they are learning.
Set clear, known limits before play begins: how many minutes are allowed, at what time, and what happens afterwards. Use a timer, and make the switch from screen to another activity predictable. Children accept limits more easily when they know them in advance and they are not imposed suddenly.
Avoid screens well before bedtime, since they can delay sleep and keep the mind busy. Keep the bedroom as free of devices as possible, and replace the screen with a story or supplications before sleep. Also be aware that some sites show advertising, so keep an eye on what appears in front of your child.
Most importantly, let screens be part of a balanced family life rather than a replacement for it. Ask your child to tell you what they learned in the game, and suggest an off-screen activity linked to it, such as drawing an animal they learned about or acting out a scene from the Prophet's life. In this way, the game becomes genuine learning.
Remember that example is stronger than rules. If a child sees their parents spending hours on their phones, they will conclude that limits are only for children. Be a model of moderation so that what you say about screen time is credible and convincing.
Quick tips
- Choose games that build real skills, and play with your child at first to see what they learn.
- Set a clear time limit and use a timer so that the end of the session is predictable.
- Keep screens out of the bedroom, and replace them with a story or supplications before sleep.
- Ask your child to tell you what they learned, and suggest an off-screen activity linked to the game.
- Be a model of moderation, because children copy behaviour more than they follow instructions.