Runningbrook International Preschool
San Carlos Center: Carlos Peña Otaegui 11206 (intersection La Fuente) San Carlos de Apoquindo, Las Condes
Runningbrook International Preschool
San Carlos Center: Carlos Peña Otaegui 11206 (intersection La Fuente) San Carlos de Apoquindo, Las Condes
July 27, 2026
If you have ever felt a little flutter of guilt handing your toddler a phone in a long supermarket line, or wondered whether that beloved cartoon is helping or harming, you are in very good company. Screen time is one of the most common questions we hear from parents at Runningbrook, and it is one of the most emotionally charged. The messages we get from the world around us can feel contradictory: screens are everywhere, yet we are told to avoid them.
The good news is that the guidance is more nuanced, and more compassionate, than the headlines suggest. In this article, we will walk through what the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) actually recommends for young children, what you might realistically see at each stage, and simple things you can do today. Throughout, we will keep coming back to a truth we hold dear: you are the expert on your own child.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has, in recent years, shifted away from rigid rules toward a more thoughtful, family-centered framework. Rather than treating all screen time as equal, current guidance asks parents to consider what children are watching, who they are watching it with, and when it happens. Here is the general shape of their recommendations:
Decades of early childhood development research point to the same underlying principle: young children learn best through real, responsive human interaction and hands-on exploration. The AAP emphasizes that what matters most is not simply the number of minutes, but whether screens are crowding out the experiences children need to thrive, such as play, conversation, movement, and rest.
Every child is different, and children develop at their own unique pace. Still, understanding some common patterns can help you make sense of your child's behavior around screens.
Very young children are wired for connection. A baby learns language not from a screen but from the back-and-forth of your voice, your facial expressions, and the pauses that invite them to respond. You might notice that your toddler seems mesmerized by a video yet does not carry that learning into real life. This is normal, and it reflects what researchers call the "video deficit": children under three learn far more from a live person than from the same content on a screen.
Older preschoolers can begin to learn from well-designed content, especially when an adult is nearby to connect it to their world. You might see your child repeating a phrase from a show, or wanting to act out a story afterward. You may also notice big emotions when it is time to turn the screen off. Transitions are genuinely hard for young children, and a tricky goodbye to a tablet is not a sign of a "screen problem" so much as a normal developmental stage.
Here are practical, judgment-free strategies you can start using today. Choose the ones that fit your family; there is no single right way.
At Runningbrook, our child-centered, play-based approach is built on the belief that young children learn by doing: by building, painting, splashing, negotiating with friends, and exploring our indoor and outdoor spaces. Screens, however well designed, cannot replace the rich sensory and social learning that happens when a child stacks blocks with a friend or invents a story in the sandbox.
Our multicultural environment adds another dimension. In a community with families from more than 35 countries, we see how cultural values shape screen habits. In some homes, video calls are a precious daily bridge to grandparents across oceans, a beautiful example of technology serving connection. In others, families lean toward more unstructured outdoor time. Both approaches can nurture a confident, curious child. Bilingual education, too, reminds us that language blossoms through real relationships far more than through any app.
Screen time is not a test you can pass or fail. It is one part of the larger, loving landscape of family life. The research is reassuring: what your child needs most is you, warm interaction, plenty of play, good sleep, and the freedom to explore. If some days include more screens than you planned, that does not undo the countless moments of connection you provide.
Trust yourself. You know your child's rhythms, needs, and joys better than any guideline ever could. Use the AAP recommendations as a helpful compass, not a strict rulebook, and give yourself the same grace you so generously give your little one. If you ever want to talk through what works for your family, our educators are always here to support you.