Kids and the Impact of Screen Time

Summary

The Dr. Laura Podcast

Episode: Kids and the Impact of Screen Time
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Date: December 31, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Laura Schlessinger dives into the evolving impact of screen time on children, using statistics from the 2025 Common Sense Media census. She examines how early and excessive exposure to digital devices is changing childhood, family dynamics, and parenting responsibilities. The discussion is candid, at times critical, but offers practical advice for families striving to regain control over technology in their homes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Current Landscape: Alarming Screen Time Statistics

• Device Ownership at Young Ages
  • Dr. Laura: "This 2025 Common Sense Media census...40% of 2 year olds own their own tablet. 58% of 4 year olds have their own tablet. A quarter of kids by age 8 have a cell phone." (00:47)
• Daily Screen Exposure
  • Dr. Laura: "Kids ages 5 to 8 now spend more than 3.5 hours per day on screens." (02:02)
  • Dr. Laura: "Children under two spend an average of a little over an hour on screens daily...two hours for kids two to four, three hours and a half for kids five to eight." (02:40)
• Types of Screen Use
  • Watching TV and short-form video dominates, with a major rise in platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts. (02:54)
  • Gaming time is up 65% since 2020.

2. Screens as Emotional Pacifiers and Consequences

• Devices for Regulation
  • Dr. Laura: "Screens are often used for emotional regulation. Almost 20% of parents report that their kids sometimes or often use a mobile device to calm down if they're angry, sad or upset." (03:15–03:40)
• Effect on Brain and Development
  • Co-host: "We used to do that running around outside, playing with friends...Now we're staring dumbly at a screen, which is definitely changing the whole way your brain works." (02:05)

3. Socioeconomic Factors and the ‘Screen as Babysitter’ Phenomenon

• Disparity by Income
  • Dr. Laura: "Children from lower income households earning less than $50,000 per year spend twice as much time on screens." (03:56)
• Why Screens Become Surrogates
  • Dr. Laura: "Parents are stretched thin with financial strain, lack of support from extended family, no paid maternity leave, unaffordable child care." (04:03–04:24)
  • Dr. Laura: "It makes sense that screens have become the stand in babysitter that parents don't actually have." (04:30)

4. Parental Responsibility, Family Planning, and Societal Attitudes

• Taking Initiative and Planning
  • Dr. Laura: “It’s called planning before you have kids. Any woman can plan whether or not to have a baby...there are so many contraceptives, it’s kind of silly to think you can’t.” (04:42–05:09)
• Anecdote: Living Within Means to Enable Hands-On Parenting
  • Dr. Laura recounts advising a couple to live on one salary before children, so one parent could stay home: “Just don’t spend it for 365 days. And you know what they discovered in this incredibly modest house? That they could live on one salary. Then they had the baby so she could actually parent and not use technology to parent her babies.” (05:31–06:39)

5. Concrete Steps to Regain Control of Screen Time

• Rejecting ‘Feeling-Based’ Parenting
  • Dr. Laura: "If you assess that screen time has taken over for your family. That a feeling?...You don’t make all these decisions based on a feeling." (10:13–10:51)
• Clear, Firm Strategies
  • Dr. Laura: “Try keeping mealtimes, bedrooms and family outings screen free. As much as possible. Try and as much as possible. What is this crap that gets published? ... So keep mealtimes, bedrooms and family outings screen free. Period. End of sentence.” (11:13–11:42)
  • Co-host: “Act like a parent. I like that.” (11:48)
  • Dr. Laura: “Be realistic with limits. Zero. If zero screens isn’t an option, find a rhythm that works for your family.” (11:51–11:59)
• Alternatives to Screens
  • Dr. Laura: “When in doubt, swap screen time for playtime...Kids naturally gravitate towards screens when they're bored. Try having go to alternatives ready. Art supplies, puzzles, outdoor activities. Duh. That should have been first and only.” (12:31–12:45 & 12:45–13:05)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dr. Laura: “Yeah, this is how our kids are becoming little robots. Little mindless robots.” (00:47)
• Co-host: “God bless the other 75% parents. God bless you.” (01:58)
• Dr. Laura: “It’s really good for their brains” [referring to playing outside and even getting dirty or hurt], contrasting with screen time. (02:26)
• Co-host: “We used to do that running around outside, but now we stare dumbly at a screen.” (02:05)
• Dr. Laura: "It makes sense that screens have become the stand in babysitter that parents don't actually have. And instead of guilt, we need understanding. For ourselves and each other." (04:30–04:42)
• Dr. Laura: “I don’t like people being careful like that because it leads them to lead people in the wrong direction.” (13:05–13:18)
• Co-host: “Why are people afraid to take stands these days?” (11:26)
• Dr. Laura: “Have balls.” (11:38)

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Key Segment Timestamps

• Statistics and Report Highlights: 00:47–03:56
• Socioeconomic Circumstances and Screen Use: 03:56–04:42
• Parental & Societal Attitudes Toward Family Planning: 04:42–05:23
• Anecdote: Living on One Salary and Avoiding Screen Babysitting: 05:23–06:39
• Concrete Tips for Families: 10:13–13:18

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Episode Takeaways

• Screen time is pervasive and increasing for children as young as two, with ownership and daily use steadily climbing.
• The rise in screen use is attributed in part to socioeconomic pressures and the lack of childcare options, particularly in lower-income households.
• Dr. Laura argues for conscious family planning and bold, firm parenting—eschewing soft, feelings-based approaches in favor of principled action.
• She provides practical advice: keep specific times and places (meals, bedrooms, family outings) screen-free, use parental controls, set realistic but clear limits, and most importantly—substitute screen time with play and real-world activities.
• The tone is direct, with a call for personal responsibility and assertive decision-making by parents.
• The episode underscores that while empathy for parents’ struggles is necessary, decisive action must be prioritized for the well-being of the next generation.

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Transcript

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[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

My morning monologue brought to you by Golden Crest Metals, a new sponsor I want to welcome to my program find out how gold and silver can protect what you have worked so hard to build. Learn [e-mail] Protect Remember, you can hear my radio program daily on Sirius XM Triumph and connect with me 24 [e-mail] yeah, this is how our kids are becoming little robots. Little mindless robots. Here we go. This 2025 Common Sense Media census, which offers a fresh look at how kids under 8 are using screens. 40% of 2 year olds own their own tablet. 58% of 4 year olds have their own tablet. A quarter of kids by age 8 have a cell phone.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

God bless the other 75% parents. God bless you.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Kids ages 5 to 8 now spend.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

More than 3.5 hours per day on screens. We used to do that running around outside, playing with friends, playing with our parents. Now we're staring dumbly at a screen, which is definitely changing the whole way your brain works.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

You think a kid running and playing with dogs and friends and running around and getting dirty and breaking an ankle or something is bad for their brains? No, it's really good for their brains.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Okay.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Ah.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Children under two spend an average of.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

A little over an hour on screens daily.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

That number jumps to two hours for kids two to four, three hours and a half for kids five to eight.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Okay.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

The way kids engage with screens has also evolved. According to this report, watching TV and videos remains the most common activity in kids under 8.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

The most common activity TV and videos.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

I mean short form videos like TikTok, YouTube shorts reels are on the rise. Gaming time has jumped 65% since 2020. Screens are often used for emotional regulation. Almost 20% of parents report that their kids sometimes or often use a mobile.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Device to calm down. To calm down if they're angry, sad or upset, let's just stare at a screen.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Children from lower income households earning less than 50,000 per year spend twice as.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Much time on screenshot. And let's see. Parents are stretched thin with financial strain, lack of a support from extended family, no paid maternity leave.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Unaffordable child care.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Given all of this, this article says.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

It makes sense that screens have become the stand in babysitter that parents don't actually have.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

And instead of guilt, we need understanding.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

For ourselves and each other. It's called planning before you have kids. Any woman can plan whether or not to have a baby.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

And I don't mean abortion, I mean conception. I mean there are so many contraceptives, it's kind of silly to think you can't.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

So no, it doesn't make sense that.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

It'S sad that screens are the stand in babysitter.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Plan, plan, Extended family plan, not working plan.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

One person working plan.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

About 40 years ago, I did a pilot for a TV show. Was not even a pilot. It was like a pre pilot.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

I hated it.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

But one of the things that we.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Did on this pilot, I don't like, really don't like working on TV. I like the YouTube thing. We're in total control. You have somebody saying put more makeup on her. You know what I mean?

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Okay. And you showed this couple in this incredibly modest home. Incredibly modest home wasn't cute. It was very modest. That's what they could afford. And they were both delivered mail. I thought it was cute that they both delivered mail.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Not together. I mean they each had a job delivering mail.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

So I gave a recommendation and I've done this on the air for one year, live on one salary for a year. All the other money gets put into.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Savings or something that accrues more profit.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Just don't spend it for 365 days. And you know what they discovered in this incredibly modest house?

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

That they could live on one salary. Then they had the baby so she could actually parent and not use technology to parent her babies.

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[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Okay then.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

It gives you some ideas on how to adjust screen time for your family's well being. If you're feeling. And I love when the word feeling gets tossed about. Who gives a damn what you're feeling? If you assess that screen time has taken over for your family. That a feeling?

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Actually, I don't feel like it's taking over.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

I feel it. That I don't feel it. I feel. I don't feel silly talking about your feelings.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

They're silly.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

That's internal stuff. You don't make all these decisions based on a feeling.

[Ryan Reynolds]

A feeling.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Here are some small empowering shifts to bring it back under control. Are you all looking at screens for learning, Entertainment Distraction? Start analyzing why that's happening. Try keeping try.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

I love this try.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Do you know what try means?

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Yeah, we gave it a shot.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Try keeping mealtimes, bedrooms and family outings screen free. As much as possible. Try and as much as possible. What is this crap that gets published?

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Why are people afraid to take stands these days?

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Oh, I know. You get beaten up, you get attacked, you get canceled, you get harassed.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Yeah, I know. Okay.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Have balls.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Anyway, that's what I'm saying.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

So keep mealtimes, bedrooms and family outings screen free. Period. End of sentence.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Act like a parent. I like that.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Be realistic with limits. Zero. If zero screens isn't an option, find.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

A rhythm that works for your family.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Some parents swear by no screens on school days.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Others set clear weekend limits. I think an hour a day is good. Unless the family together is watching a movie. Then it's that and they can look at some stupid screen for an hour.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Use tech to your advantage. Many devices have built in parental controls, so set app limits, schedule downtime and etc. And I love this one, which should.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Have been the first one. You ready?

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

When in doubt.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Is that another feeling?

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

When in doubt, swap screen time for playtime.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

This should have been first and maybe only.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Kids naturally gravitate towards screens when they're bored. Try having go to alternatives ready. Art supplies, puzzles, outdoor activities. Duh. That should have been first and only.

[Podcast Co-host or Guest]

Okay, some of this is okay. Most of it is being careful. I don't like people being careful like that because it leads them to lead.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

People in the wrong direction. I think my number 1-800-375-2872. If you like this podcast, be sure to rate it on Apple Podcasts or your favorite place to listen to my podcast. Of course, I'd love if you gave me five stars. And be sure to share this podcast with a friend on Facebook or your preferred social media platform.

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