Navigating tech with toddlers, kids, and teens
Posted on October 22, 2025 by the Canadian Paediatric Society | Permalink
Topic(s): Mental health, Public education, Advocacy, Paediatric practice
Dr. Michelle Ponti
It has been a decade since the Digital Health Task Force published the first CPS position statement on screen time and young children. Fast forward ten years, and things have changed a lot. Few of us could have imagined the place that screens would hold in the lives of children and families and, by necessity, our practices.
The use of screens and electronic devices has links to physical health, mental health, and development. That’s why developing the Centre for Healthy Screen Use became an urgent priority for the CPS.
The CHSU was launched in May to support thoughtful and informed decision-making around screen use for children and youth. Funded by the Waltons Trust, it provides the tools, CME and resources to help you incorporate screen time counselling in your clinical practice. There are also helpful family-oriented resources to share with parents.
Reflecting back, I have learned some valuable insights along way that I’d like to share. Perhaps they may be helpful in your own practice when counselling parents and kids on healthier screen use in daily life.
Here are my top 10 messages for parents:
- Lose the guilt, it’s never too late to make even a small change in daily habits.
- Lead by example and be a role model for your kids. (Clinicians can also use office visits to model in-the-moment teaching. Put the phone down and re-direct to a toy or activity or engage into the conversation and praise them for complying!).
- Start screen media planning early, even as part of prenatal and routine well-baby visits.
- Remind parents they are the best toy and teacher that their child will ever need.
- Babies and toddlers do not need screen time. There is no evidence of added benefit to brain development and lots of evidence of risk and harms.
- Keep phones out of bedrooms, including adults’ bedrooms.
- Delay giving your child their own phone for as long as possible, ideally until high school. Check out Unplugged Canada for a pledge.
- Enjoy screen time together! Play video games together, watch TV shows together, and follow your teen’s (and their friends) online profiles.
- Screen counselling is more about HOW (see tips #4, 6 and 8) screens are used rather than HOW MUCH (except tip #5!).
- Remind parents to watch out for a change in their child or teen’s mood, irritability, eating and sleep habits. If they have concerns, encourage them to seek help from the child’s doctor, teacher or counsellor.
The CHSU’s work is guided by an Advisory Board and supported by the Digital Health Task Force, but all clinicians play an important role in helping children, youth and families navigate digital environments.
For more information, visit the Centre for Healthy Screen Use or sign up for its monthly eNewsletter.
Dr. Michelle Ponti is a paediatrician at the Child and Parent Resource Institute (CPRI) in London, Ontario and an Adjunct Professor at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. Dr. Ponti is also Chair of both the CPS Digital Health Task Force and the Advisory Board for the Centre for Healthy Screen Use.
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The information on this blog should not be used as a substitute for medical care and advice. The views of blog writers do not necessarily represent the views of the Canadian Paediatric Society.
Last updated: Oct 23, 2025