Why I wouldn't stop screen time for children with autism

In today's video blog I'm discussing why reducing screen time may not be in your child or client with autism's best interest.

[sxsattar]

Thank you for saying this!... I know there is revolution against screen time, but My son probably wouldn’t have even learned half of the stuff he learned if not for youtube videos. Still these days it is one of the best tools to manage his tantrums!

[GuidingAutism]

We’ve had the battles with therapy and screen time. I’ve seen my daughter get real life social skills from watching shows that model them. Improved fine motor skills and problem solving, emotional regulation skills from playing video games. I know every child is so different but I’ve put my foot down in the limited screen time over and over. Now that she’s 7 she will even choose to put down the iPad or video game to do pretend play or a project with me. It was more important to me that she choose to do this than me make her. Thanks for the video.

[disa]

Thank you for taking the guilt off my shoulders.

[andreaamorcruz]

I agree with this Dr.Barbera, I am a fulltime mom and hands on with my almost 3 year old son. me and my husband are always arguing about screen time, because I told him that I can see my son develops from watching, like he learned counting and alphabets of course with my guidance from the programs he's watching. Specially this time of pandemic I dont know how to fill our time. We are suspecting that our child has an autism, seen by a developmental pedia and referred to a psychiatrist. Your videos are really educating, God bless you!

[erinsmith]

Thank you! My guilt of having my almost 3 year old autistic son having so much screen time that is normally looked down upon was upsetting, your thoughts are really reassuring. He has learned so much through his favorite song videos that he watches on YouTube, he sings along or hums to multiple songs and has learned body parts, action words, the alphabet, counting, colors, shapes and so on...that we have been able to build on without the screen.

[ladybug-mvtn]

My three year old diagnosed moderate to severe autistic son learned his ABCs, counting 1 to 20, sounding out each letter, knows the colors, knows the shapes, reading a few words, saying days of the week and many many words he'd otherwise might not have learned. Oh and he sings the songs all the time. Some consider him non verbal because he doesn't actually communicate to us through talking. He doesn't know how to tell us when he's hungry or when he hurts. I believe youtube learning shows for kids is a great idea. My son needed that repetition, many hours a day. Once we were without internet for about two weeks and he was not saying his ABCs and the things he had learned. He would barely repeat them for us. As a matter of fact I can't get him to sit still or listen to me when try to teach him or read to him. His attention is always on track when watching his shows but not with mom and dad. We still work with him even though he seems to not listen and we sing to him all the time. His favorite animals are fish and camel. Lol. He says camel all the time

[annagarcia]

I feel so understood... we struggled with so much guilt over screen time, because without it our son would elope when he was very little, or bang toys together... we felt like horrible parents, but through educational kids tv, our son started doing more elaborate scripting, and at age 5 is now fully verbal and coversational, which seemed impossible to us at age 3

[lynnsparling]

AMEN! I am so glad you had this. It is so true. Using reinforcement correctly is so much more important than what is the reinforcement choice is. I love your videos Dr. Barbera!

[rasgabry]

With all due respect Dr. Mary, but I have to disagree with this. My son was diagnosed at 2.5 years and he would watch Tv all day if we leave him. In addition to language delay, it affected his eating, digestion and sleeping habbits as well. After his diagnosis I took the decision to stop screen time, take him out, speak with him and play. Only then I started turning autism around for him. The words he picked from TV were only echolaliac, but now one year on from my decision he is a very different boy. He improved in all aspects. Receiving from screen doesn't work as interacting with humans. I hope you can reconsider your stance.

[rosaliadelossantos]

For me and my son, the screen has been a magnificent way to reach an effective communication process, as a mother, I will not, in any way, condemn or censure the use of any resources which may lead to understand your special child needs.

[AmyAndBrian-]

I just found you earlier today and I've been watching your videos all day and I absolutely love u girl. I hope I can get my son to start talking . Learning from you thank you so much I'm so grateful to be able to watch you and soak in the things you are teaching us for our children because I definitely need someone to help guide me to do all different things to help my little guy . My son was born with cranialstenosis and had surgery and his surgeon said he would have a speech delay but I also think he is a little autistic so thank you so much grateful to have you !

[taunyac.]

I couldn't use the bathroom by myself. I put the TV on YouTube preschool lessons. My 4 year old repeated everything he learned. Now he is reading 1st grade level. This is in only 4 months. I work with him when the TV is off but he ask for the shows now. He even does math, sign language and counts to 100. Ms. Monica's circle time helps too.

[rebeccagrandy]

We aim for balance every day - but somedays are more outside and somedays are more in front of a screen- my sons first words that were not mom, dad or a food was "Paw Patrol" - I was always baffled how he could say all the pups names and some lines to the show but not say things that I thought were important :-) Yesterday I called my partner at work because our 3 year old was answering questions that Blaze on the show Blaze the monster truck was asking IE which coloured cave to go in - my mind was blown. We also use a screen at restaurants - because there is no way to sit and eat without it at this point- he plays hard at daycare each day - and when home we get outside each day but I am relieved to hear that you are on the same page with screen time. Thank you for this message!

[vippartis]

Very useful program. Information shared by viewers also very useful. Thanks for sharing . When ever I mention this problem of my grand daughter, others also telling they have a child in their family also . It is becoming a very common problem in many families in india also

[diana]

Thank you for saying this, because so many people around me don’t know what it is to have a child with autism and of course, as a mother, I’m being super judged on the amount of screen time that I’m giving my child. I’m not thinking you for agreeing with me. I’m thinking you for breaking down the details that actually help my child so that way I can find out a way to replace that screen time.. thank you again.

[JonBrase]

I was recently diagnosed with autism and had poor fine motor skills as a kid back in the 90s. Computer use was definitely helpful as far as that was concerned. I'd tend to recommend interactive stuff over just TV, but I can see a place for educational shows. There are issues with screen time potentially allowing an individual to retreat from social interaction rather than working through their social problems, but at the same time, if fitting in socially becomes an obsession (particularly an issue for autistic girls), it can be quite damaging, so pushing a child too hard to go out and make friends isn't automatically good. There are also issues with screen time potentially acting as a substitute for intellectual challenge in education: I was severely under-challenged in school, and didn't develop the greatest work ethic, but books were as much of an issue here as screen time; the big issue is that a good cross section of activities the child doesn't choose (like school) need to provide an appropriate level of intellectual stimulation, or the child will learn an attitude that work is just something you do to get to the actually interesting parts of life.

[gvantsanarimanidze]

Completely agree. You cant have child watch TV for hrs a day, that cant be good for anyone but if you allow them to watch it few mins maybe twice a day it will have some positive results. Especially if parents are watching TV with their kids and try to communicate like " look she has an ice cream" " he kicked the ball".. Etc try this it helps a lot 💜

[funkdrunk]

Focused screentime is education! If this is an activity chosen by the child, why would we limit it? Would we limit book reading because of addiction to books?

[josivalentini]

I just found that Video and i hope my comment one day finde your attention. I am almost in Tears because i finally have an answer and good respond when ppl try to explain me why my daughter shouldnt watch that much tv as she do. Sometimes i am even afraid to mention it. But you just brought it onto the point. My daughter open up so so much with her Music Cartoon Shows like Cocomelon Super Simple Song and more. She see it and repeag everything. Also her socializing get supportet. Shes happily dancing control herself in the mirror or come to me to involve me. To dance or do the movement. To switch of the tv is a 30sec tears moment which is more than ok. But then..shes ok and she knw the other day she can have her happy moment again. ❤

[munkssoph]

Oh my gosh ! I’m not crazy . My 3 year old waiting to get diagnosed. I swear this is the only way he will kind of behave . If not it’s writing on walls, climbing furniture ect on point ! I fet so much guilt . But it’s a hot mess if the tv isn’t on 🥺😳. Thank you for all your videos ! I’m so happy we’re not alone !