Today’s kids are growing up in a world where screens are part of everyday life—from learning to playing to staying connected. That’s not necessarily bad. But it’s a big shift. And like all big changes, it comes with risks and questions.

We all do it. Check a message mid-conversation. Scroll while stirring the pasta. Glance at work emails during playtime. And most of the time, we don’t even notice we’re doing it. But our kids do. And they learn from it.

Screens are everywhere. At breakfast. In the car. At bedtime. They’re colorful, easy, and often helpful. And sometimes—let’s be honest—they’re a lifeline. But there’s something we don’t talk about enough: what if a lot of screen time in the early years is getting in the way of something deeper? Something quiet, like how a child’s brain builds itself through touch, movement, play, and face-to-face interaction.

Sometimes it feels like they’ve disappeared into the phone. One scroll, one reply, one meme at a time. And you’re standing on the other side of the room—trying to reach them without pushing them away. You’re not alone. And you’re not doing it wrong.