Publication: Balancing the Digital Scales: Screen Time Management in Early Childhood Education
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2025-08-25
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2025-08-25
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Many existing approaches to screen time management rely on simplistic time limits or general warnings that fail to address the complex realities families face. Parents often turn to screens as practical solutions to everyday challenges—needing to complete tasks, manage difficult behaviors, or simply find moments of relief. The “digital babysitter” phenomenon reflects legitimate needs, not merely poor parenting choices. This report moves beyond simplistic frameworks to offer a nuanced, evidence-based approach that acknowledges both the developmental concerns and practical realities of raising children in a digital world. Drawing from over 80 studies across 18 countries and six world regions, we present a comprehensive analysis of screen time impacts and intervention effectiveness.
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“Molina, E.. 2025. Balancing the Digital Scales: Screen Time Management in Early Childhood Education. Digital Innovations in Education; Brief N°5. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/43633 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”
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