Pop Quiz: What Do You Do When the Baby Is Screaming, the Toddler Is Jumping Off the Couch, and You Haven’t Eaten in 6 Hours? Answer: You’re letting the kids watch TV.
Bonus points if it’s Bluey, Daniel Tiger, or that one show with the unbearable songs that somehow calm your child like a magic spell.
Let’s be honest. We’ve all heard it before:
“Screen time is bad.”
“TV fries their brains.”
“Back in my day, we didn’t need cartoons to babysit us.”
Cool. Back in your day, you also left kids in the back of pickup trucks without seatbelts. Not exactly the gold standard.
So today, I’m saying it loud and clear:
Yes, my kids watch TV—and no, it doesn’t make me a bad mom.
What Screen Time Looks Like in My House
I’m a neurodivergent mom to three kids:
👧 A 5-year-old who treats every show like an interactive musical
🧒 A 3-year-old with ADHD who uses TV as a calm-down tool
👶 A 4-month-old who’s mostly here for the cuddles, spit-up, and chaos
Some days, screen time is a sanity-saver. Other days, it’s the only way I can make dinner, shower, or even take a breath without someone needing me.
Screen Time Isn’t the Enemy—Burnout Is
When I’m juggling overstimulation, sleep deprivation, executive dysfunction, and three small humans needing snacks, attention, and emotional regulation every 15 seconds… something’s gotta give.
And yes, I’ve read the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines.
And yes, I understand balance and engagement.
But also? I’m not a robot. I’m a mom.
Sometimes the choice isn’t between TV or reading a book together—it’s between TV or me melting down in front of my kids. I choose peace.
(Related: In this post on parenting with ADHD, I talk more about how overstimulation impacts how I show up as a mom.)
Why TV Works for My Neurodivergent Family
For my 3-year-old with ADHD, TV is more than just entertainment. It’s a regulation tool.
He watches a familiar show, his body slows down, his brain settles, and suddenly, he’s not climbing the kitchen cabinets or throwing a banana at the wall.
He’s absorbing stories, learning emotional cues, and—believe it or not—practicing social-emotional skills.
Some of our favorites:
🧡 Daniel Tiger – Teaches emotional regulation
💙 Bluey – Models imaginative play and family dynamics
💛 Puffin Rock – Calming nature narration with gentle visuals
We use Yoto Mini Player for screen-free storytelling too, which gives me the same 20-minute break without the flashing screens.
“But Why Not Just Play With Them?”
I play. Oh, I play. I pretend to be a dragon, a chef, a sleep-deprived narwhal named Debbie.
But I can’t play 24/7. Sometimes I need to fold laundry, call the pediatrician, or gasp drink my coffee while it’s still warm.
And sometimes? I just need quiet.
TV gives me that break. And honestly? It gives them a break, too.
The Hidden Magic of Screen Time
Let’s stop pretending kids don’t learn from screens. Mine have learned:
- How to take deep breaths when they’re mad (thanks, Daniel)
- Why teamwork matters (thanks, Octonauts)
- The words to 63 Bluey episodes (which honestly builds memory skills, okay?)
We also use shows to spark connection:
📺 Watch an episode →
💬 Ask questions →
🎨 Act it out or draw the characters
(Yes, it takes a little effort. No, I don’t do it every time. But when I do, it turns passive screen time into connection.)
Check out my post on simple ways to turn screen time into bonding time if you’re looking for low-effort wins.
But What About Screen Time Guilt?
Ah yes. The guilt gremlin.
“You’re ruining their brains.”
“They’ll never learn to self-soothe.”
“You’re using TV as a crutch.”
First of all: It’s okay to need crutches when you’re limping through life, friend.
And second: Screen time guilt serves no one. If the letting kids watch TV lets me reset so I can show up calmer and more regulated? That’s not failing. That’s good parenting.
Our Screen Time Boundaries (Loose, but They Work)
We don’t have rigid rules, but we do have screen rhythms:
- Morning reset: While I nurse the baby and drink coffee
- Post-nap buffer: Helps the 3-year-old transition without tantrums
- Pre-dinner downtime: So I can cook something that isn’t toast
And if the baby was up all night and the toddler is in a “don’t touch me” mood? Yeah, it might be an all-day Bluey marathon. I’m not apologizing.
The Real Harm? Shame and Comparison
When we shame moms for screen time, we’re ignoring:
- Mental health realities
- Lack of support systems
- Neurodivergence (both moms and kids)
- The reality that not every family has access to enrichment programs or childcare
No one wins when we pretend that moms should be perfect.
Let’s stop trading connection for comparison.
Tools That Make Screen Time Work for Us
🛒 Yoto Mini Player – Screen-free stories with timers and playlists
🛒 Kids’ Noise-Cancelling Headphones – Helps my 3-year-old watch shows in a calmer state
(Also, I get to drink my coffee while it’s still hot. That alone is worth it.)
Reminder for the Mom Doom-Scrolling Right Now
If you’re here reading this while feeling guilty because your kid is on their third episode of Blaze and the Monster Machines—you’re okay.
You’re enough.
You’re doing what you need to do to get through today.
TV isn’t replacing you. It’s supporting you.
Your child isn’t losing their imagination—they’re growing it, even while sitting still. You’re not failing. You’re surviving. And that counts.
Affiliate Disclosure:
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase through one of these links. I only recommend products we actually use during our real-life chaos. Thanks for keeping this blog (and my snack stash) going!