Mom wanted to reduce her toddler’s screen time so she turned herself into a real-life Ms. Rachel

With over 24 million views, a TikTok video posted by new millennial mom Victoria Harrell is making people smile from ear to ear. It’s also challenging, one of modern parenting’s biggest struggles, that being screen time. In the clip, Harrell (@victoria_harrell) sits on the floor, her newborn in a bouncer nearby.

Even though the television plays behind her, the baby faces away from it. Instead of handing over the distraction of a screen, Victoria turns herself into the show, dressed just like viral kids’ entertainer Ms. Rachel, and singing directly to her baby. The caption reads: “New mom here: still trying to figure out the difference." And in 60 seconds, Victoria shows that when it comes to engaging young children, nothing beats face-to-face connection, even if it means cosplaying your kid’s favorite YouTube star.

In an age where screens are almost impossible to avoid, especially for exhausted new parents, experts continue to warn that too much screen exposure in the early years can interfere with everything from sleep to speech development. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children under 18 months should have no screen time at all, except for video chatting. Yet in real life, many babies and toddlers spend hours daily in front of devices. Researchers have found that excess screen time during infancy is linked to language delays, attention issues, and reduced parent-child interaction, one of the most important factors in early development. 

But in reality, many infants and toddlers today spend a lot of time in front of screens, whether it’s TV, tablets, or phones. Studies link early screen exposure to delays in speech and language, difficulty paying attention, and fewer meaningful interactions with parents or caregivers. And those real-life, face-to-face moments, talking, playing, and cuddling, are some of the most important building blocks for a child’s emotional and mental growth.

Victoria’s video taps into that reality and offers a joyful alternative. Commenters were quick to react. “You know Ms. Rachel loves this and would absolutely approve,” wrote @user6237272152832. “Oh my goodness, you should try a Yoto, they’re an amazing replacement for screen time!” added @indigenousvibes681, referencing a screen-free audio player for kids. Others praised the effort behind the performance itself. “No one’s talking about how she’s actually cosplaying Ms. Rachel,” said @angel, noting the full commitment to the bit. And @Sierra Mosallaei added in and said, “I wonder if Ms. Rachel turns on Ms. Rachel for her kids when she wants a break.”

Similarly, another user, @Embalmher4514, said, “My 5-week-old loves hearing the police body cam videos I watch,” talking just about how much background noise babies are often exposed to. “I mean, this is how Ms. Rachel intended the videos to be used,” wrote @Cornelius Maroon III. “We're supposed to be engaging with our kids while watching them, or they aren't as effective.” Another commenter, @Shalalalallalala, adding about how babies learn best, said,  “Babies form neural connections by something called ‘serve and return’, aka when an adult responds to their facial expressions! Ms. Rachel can’t do that, but you singing to her can!”

You can follow @victoria_harrellon TikTok for more videos like this.