My first encounter about screen time effects on kids happened years before I became a father. I stumbled upon a video showing why Mr Rogers's show has an un-cut and long one-take scene.

It's basically like this.

Time moves fast on TV. In one hour the “TV World” can cover the whole day or weeks. Everything looks easier and faster. Even struggles and hardships will not take long on TV.

Yet, in the real world, everything takes longer and harder.

Because of that, we get bored, tired and unmotivated easily.

What this does to kids (and even us adults), is we lose the sense of time.

Mr Roger changes that. It was a game-changer at the time.

In Mr Roger’s Neighborhood, everything is shown in real-time. No cuts. But a long one-take scene. If it takes 5 minutes to tie a rope in Mr Roger’s show, it will probably take 5 minutes to do the same in the real world.

If Mr Roger fails to do something, they won’t fix it behind the scenes and reshoot it back. They will show the failure as it happens.

I didn’t even know how bad screen time can be for kids. The only reason my parents scolded me for playing too much video games is because I didn’t do my homework. Not because it's bad for me.

But in that one video, I learned how bad screen time can be. At the same time, I also learned we can make screen time better if the content is made for kids.

It might have been 12-15 years since I watched that video.

I’m now a father of four boys.

And screen time is a global problem now. Excessive screen is linked to too many developmental delays. This includes communication, fine motor skills, problem-solving, social skills, emotional regulation and many more. In some situations, kids develop autism-like symptoms.

Made for kids digital content is needed now more than ever.

That video I stumble, inspires StoryTime. It gave me the strength to move forward knowing something good can be done on screen. Because it has been done before.

But parents need to do their part too.

Start with limiting your kids’ screen time. No matter how busy you are. No matter how good the content is. SCREEN TIME NEEDS LIMITATION.

In the 80s and 90s, kids grew up watching Mr Rogers less than an hour. But now they can watch Mr Roger’s Neighborhood for hours a day, non stop. I’m sure it comes with a huge cost to the kids’ developmental milestones.

Here is a guideline of how much screen time for every kids age developed by American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry:

• Until 18 months of age limit screen use to video chatting along with an adult (for example, with a parent who is out of town).

• Between 18 and 24 months screen time should be limited to watching educational programming with a caregiver.

• For children 2-5, limit non-educational screen time to about 1 hour per weekday and 3 hours on the weekend days.

• For ages 6 and older, encourage healthy habits and limit activities that include screens.

• Turn off all screens during family meals and outings.

• Learn about and use parental controls.

• Avoid using screens as pacifiers, babysitters, or to stop tantrums.

• Turn off screens and remove them from bedrooms 30-60 minutes before bedtime.

Hope this help

Thank you.

— zulfadhli