Ideas worth spreading

3 fears about screen time for kids -- and why they're not true

1,872,224 views |

Sara DeWitt |

TED2017

• April 2017

We check our phones upwards of 50 times per day -- but when our kids play around with them, we get nervous. Are screens ruining childhood? Not according to children's media expert Sara DeWitt. In a talk that may make you feel a bit less guilty about handing a tablet to a child while you make dinner, DeWitt envisions a future where we're excited to see kids interacting with screens and shows us exciting ways new technologies can actually help them grow, connect and learn.

We check our phones upwards of 50 times per day -- but when our kids play around with them, we get nervous. Are screens ruining childhood? Not according to children's media expert Sara DeWitt. In a talk that may make you feel a bit less guilty about handing a tablet to a child while you make dinner, DeWitt envisions a future where we're excited to see kids interacting with screens and shows us exciting ways new technologies can actually help them grow, connect and learn.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

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About the speaker

Sara DeWitt

Children’s media expert

See speaker profile

Inspired by Mister Rogers, Sara DeWitt strives to make every child feel special by charting the forefront of new digital mediums where kids spend their time.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Want to support more great content for kids? Support PBS KIDS through a donation to your local PBS station.

Sign up for the PBS Parents newsletter.