Battles Over Kids' Screen Time Can Get Complicated With Grandparents

Different generations can hold different views on what is 'harmless'. How can we manage this tension?

- Annabelle Chow

At a recent visit to the wet market, I watched a grandmother hand her phone to her grandson, proud of her ingenuity in keeping him occupied instead of running around the stalls.

It seemed harmless, even loving. It's also completely understandable.

As a clinical psychologist and mum to two young children, I daresay managing screen time is one of our biggest challenges in modern parenting. We wrestle with the guilt of wanting peace in the moment, while worrying about long-term habits.

I see this tension play out almost every day. I've been guilty of it myself, on a long flight when I let my restless four-year-old watch Paw Patrol on the in-flight entertainment system.

And so, it was striking to hear Prime Minister Lawrence Wong bring up children's screen time in his recent National Day Rally speech. That it was raised on the national stage reminds us this is not just a parenting dilemma but a growing public health concern.

This comes on top of the wave of public health announcements when the Ministry of Health updated its guidelines on screen time for children earlier in 2025.

This includes clearly stating that there should be zero screen time for infants and toddlers 18 months and below, except for video calling. There should also be no screens in the background.

But as in the case of the grandmother I saw at the wet market, things get even more complicated when grandparents—who, for many of us, have generously stepped in as caregivers—make choices that clash with the boundaries we parents are already trying so hard to keep.

WHY WE RESORT TO SCREENS

As parents, many of us know the dangers of screen time in theory.

Research shows that early screen use can disrupt brain development, contributes to weight gain and slower learning, and is linked to poorer social and emotional well-being. It is also linked to later emotional problems and poorer family functioning.