Why Play Matters More in a Screen-Filled World
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Balancing screen time, childhood development and the power of play
We are raising children in a world where screens are everywhere… keeping us connected, entertained, educated, and even helping us exercise. As parents, we may use them for a family movie night, during long car rides, on rainy days at home, or sometimes simply because we need a moment to get things done.
For many families, they are part of daily life - and while screens absolutely have their place, Australian research continues to highlight something important:
Children learn best through real-world, hands-on play, especially in the early and primary years.
This isn’t about guilt or eliminating screens completely. It’s about understanding what children’s developing brains truly need, and making sure screen time doesn’t quietly replace the experiences that build long-term learning, creativity and resilience.
The early years: where play builds the brain
The first five years of life are a period of rapid brain development. During this time, children are building the foundations for language, emotional regulation, problem-solving and social connection. When a child plays, it might not look like much, but they are developing essential skills they will need to function in everyday life:
- Fine and gross motor skills
- Early language and communication
- Problem-solving and logical thinking
- Emotional regulation
- Creativity and imagination
- Social understanding
Unlike screens, play is active. It is messy, responsive, and multi-sensory and requires children to think independently, test, adapt and try again.
What Australian research tells us about screen time
Research in Australia has increasingly focused on not just how much screen time children have, but what it replaces in their daily lives.
Language development matters
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics involving Australian families found that increased screen time in toddlers was associated with fewer spoken words, fewer child vocalisations and fewer back-and-forth conversations.
In simple terms: when screens increase, real human interaction often decreases, and that interaction is essential for early language development.
Screen time guidelines in Australia
The Australian Institute of Family Studies and Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines recommend:
- 0–2 years: no sedentary screen time
- 2–5 years: maximum 1 hour per day of recreational screen time
- 5–17 years: no more than 2 hours per day
However, research consistently shows many children exceed these recommendations.
The concern is not only the amount of screen time, but the gradual shift away from play, movement and social interaction.
Emotional wellbeing and behaviour
Large-scale research from Australian Catholic University has linked excessive screen use with challenges including attention difficulties, emotional regulation issues and behavioural concerns.
Researchers also note a feedback cycle: more screen time can lead to emotional difficulties, which can then lead to increased reliance on screens for comfort or regulation.
Not all screen time is created equally.
The conversation around screen time often focuses on how much children are watching, but I think it is just as important to consider what they are watching.
Take Bluey and Paw Patrol for example.
Bluey is generally slow-paced, often centred around relationships, imaginative play and everyday family experiences. Episodes usually remain within one familiar setting, giving children time to follow conversations, observe emotions and understand natural consequences.
Now compare that with a show like Paw Patrol that involves frequent scene changes, constant background music, rapid transitions and highly stimulating visuals designed to capture and hold attention continuously.
Research in child development suggests that rapidly changing visual media can place a higher cognitive load on young children, particularly when content is heavily stimulating and requires little active thinking or reflection.
Studies have also shown that highly stimulating screen content can make it more difficult for young children to transition away from screens and may contribute to shorter attention spans, particularly in children who are still developing self-regulation skills.
Does that mean children can’t watch PAW Patrol? Absolutely not. But personally, I’d be more mindful about when it is being watched. For example, I wouldn’t put on highly stimulating shows before bedtime, and I’d be more likely to keep it to one or two episodes rather than allowing extended viewing.
The goal is simply to be more intentional about the type of screen content children are consuming.
As parents, it can be helpful to ask ourselves:
- Is this content calm or highly stimulating?
- Is it encouraging creativity, empathy or problem-solving?
- Is my child actively engaging with the content or simply consuming it passively?
Sometimes the question is not simply “How much screen time?”
It is also “What kind of screen time?”
Why this matters just as much for primary-aged children
As children grow older, screen time often begins to increase dramatically. Where younger children may naturally gravitate toward hands-on toys and open-ended play, older children are increasingly drawn toward the fast-paced stimulation that screens provide.
I’ve begun to really notice this more clearly now that my own son is 10, especially as I see that many of his friends no longer engage with toys in the same way. In many homes, toys gradually disappear and are replaced by tablets, gaming consoles and endless digital entertainment. Somewhere along the way, both parents and children can begin to believe the idea that a child has become “too old for toys.”
But in reality, children rarely outgrow play. More often, screens simply become the more appealing option.
Unlike traditional play, screens are designed to capture attention instantly. They provide immediate rewards, constant novelty and effortless entertainment, making slower, more creative forms of play feel less exciting by comparison.
Yet primary-aged children still deeply benefit from play experiences that challenge their thinking, creativity and independence. Building sets, puzzles, strategy games, construction toys, sensory experiences, imaginative play and hands-on problem solving continue to support critical development well beyond the early years.
Play does not suddenly stop being valuable once a child starts school. In fact, as screen exposure increases, opportunities for real-world play may become even more important. The challenge is not that children become too old for toys. The challenge is that screens can gradually replace the kinds of play experiences children still need to develop creativity, resilience, problem-solving skills and independent thinking. Sometimes what looks like a child “outgrowing toys” is simply a child becoming accustomed to the instant gratification that screens provide.
And that distinction matters.
Our experience:
One thing I’ve come to appreciate as a parent is that the habits we establish early tend to become the habits children carry with them as they grow.
Introducing new boundaries around screen time or trying to change routines can feel much harder once children are older and have already become accustomed to screens being a central part of daily life. It is far easier to establish healthy habits when children are young, rather than trying to completely reshape those habits years later.
For example, introducing screen-free routines to a three-year-old often feels natural because it becomes part of their everyday environment. Trying to introduce those same boundaries to a ten-year-old who has spent years expecting unrestricted access to screens can naturally create far more resistance.
In our home, we’ve seen how important consistency is when it comes to play. Our 10-year-old naturally gravitates toward independent, creative play because it has been encouraged from an early age, while our 5-year-old regularly engages in unstructured play at preschool, local playgroups and at home.
Because play has always been part of our routine, turning off the television and encouraging the kids to play is rarely met with resistance. It’s an important reminder that children do not automatically know how to play independently. Like any developmental skill, play is nurtured and strengthened through regular opportunities - and the more children engage in open-ended play, the more naturally they begin to seek it out themselves.
Creating balance in a digital world
The goal is not to remove screens completely. It is to create balance.
Here are some simple, practical ways families can create healthier habits at home.
1. Prioritise daily unstructured play
Open-ended play allows children to explore, experiment, problem-solve and use their imagination without pressure or specific instruction. Unlike structured activities, unstructured play encourages independent thinking and creativity.
This can look like:
• Building blocks
• Pretend play
• Sensory activities
• Puzzles and construction toys
• Arts and crafts
• Outdoor play
• Local playgroups and social play opportunities
The more regularly children engage in open-ended play, the more naturally they begin seeking it out for themselves.
2. Be intentional with screen use
Not all screen time is equal.
Co-viewing with parents, educational content and short, contained viewing experiences are very different from passive, endless entertainment.
When thinking about screen time, consider:
• Is the content slow-paced or highly stimulating?
• Does it encourage imagination, storytelling or problem-solving?
• Is my child actively engaged or simply consuming content passively?
• Am I using screens intentionally, or out of habit?
Rather than asking “How much screen time is my child having?” it can be equally helpful to ask:
“What kind of screen time are they consuming?”
3. Create screen-free routines
Predictable screen-free moments help children learn that screens are not the default activity.
In our home, the television is turned off an hour before bedtime. This naturally creates space for quieter play and helps the kids transition more calmly into sleep.
Other simple routines can include:
• Screen-free mornings before school or daycare
• No devices during meal times
• No screens during transitions like getting ready to leave the house
• Dedicated family time without phones or television
Small routines quickly become normal expectations when practiced consistently.
4. Protect space for boredom
Boredom is not something that needs to be fixed immediately.
As parents, it can be tempting to fill every quiet moment with entertainment, but boredom often becomes the starting point for creativity. It pushes children to think independently, invent games, solve problems and learn how to entertain themselves.
The next time you hear “I’m bored,” try resisting the urge to immediately offer a screen.
Sometimes the best ideas come when children are given the space to figure things out for themselves.
5. Make play the default, not the exception
When play is consistently encouraged from an early age, it becomes part of a child’s normal routine rather than something they need to be persuaded to do, and it is far easier to build healthy habits early than it is to completely reshape them later.
Children do not automatically know how to play creatively and independently. Like any developmental skill, play strengthens with regular opportunities and consistent practice.
The more consistently we create space for play early on, the more naturally children continue to seek it out as they grow.
6. Keep toys accessible and visible
Sometimes children default to screens simply because they are the easiest option available.
Keeping open-ended toys, puzzles, books, art supplies and building materials easily accessible encourages children to engage with them naturally throughout the day.
A simple shift can make a big difference:
• Toys visible and easy to access → children are more likely to use them
• Toys packed away while screens remain available → screens often become the easiest option
The environment we create at home often shapes the habits children develop.
7. Model healthy screen habits yourself
Children pay close attention to how adults use technology.
If parents are constantly reaching for phones during meals, conversations or downtime, children begin learning that screens sit at the centre of everyday life.
Simple habits children notice include:
• Putting phones away during meals
• Limiting scrolling while spending time together
• Being present during conversations
• Creating device-free family time
Children often model what they see far more than what they are told.
8. Remember that balance looks different for every family
There is no perfect formula.
Some days will involve more screen time than others, and that is completely normal.
The goal is not perfection or guilt.
Instead, focus on asking:
• Are screens replacing opportunities for play?
• Is my child getting enough movement during the day?
• Are we creating enough opportunities for connection and conversation?
• Does my child still have regular time for creativity and independent play?
Small, consistent habits often make the biggest difference over time.
Final thoughts
We are not just managing screen time. We are shaping how children learn to think, imagine, connect and engage with the world around them.
Play is not something children grow out of, it is something they grow through, and in a world filled with digital stimulation, it has become more important than ever to protect it.