Toddler turned ‘aggressive’ when she didn’t get screen time — so parents came up with a genius solution

Toddlers today are spending more time on screens than ever. From watching cartoons to playing games, electronic devices have become a major part of their daily routine. Therefore, when a baby girl began showing signs of frustration and aggression due to a lack of screen time, her parents knew something had to change. Concerned about her overall well-being, they thought of a wholesome solution that brought their family closer and immensely helped with the child's behavior. The parents shared this idea in a video posted on TikTok on their page, @arganimaria.

The video begins with a clip of the baby girl visibly upset and frustrated as the overlay text reads, "My toddler became aggressive and started crying a lot. So, we decided to cut out screen time." Viewers then get a glimpse of how the parents took the kid out in nature, made her read books, and did other interesting things together, that didn't depend on technology. They revealed, “Just a week later, we were both crying.” This simple yet effective idea is now inspiring other parents to rethink how they handle screen time with their young children.

One TikTok user, @madisonomarks, commented, “My kid truly reacts terribly to screen time. Anytime she doesn’t have it, she’s tantrum-free unless she’s exhausted. When she has free rein, she gets so aggressive and angry.” Another person, @emmy_marti, commented, “I wanna cut screen time, I mean it’s very limited, but then again I’m alone with her all day. So, when I shower, I put a movie on, but then I feel horrible because of it.” Similarly, @thelondongentleman said, “We’ve done the same with my 6-year-old son. Definitely noticed a change in behavior. Not as volatile.” On the other hand, some parents also shared how the use of electronic devices has helped their kids.

One TikTok user, @lilaclynn7, shared, “My firstborn is a very advanced reader, and I can only give credit to his screen time. I hate reading, although I did teach him early, he learned mostly from educational games and shows.” Similarly, @dailythotz chimed in, “My 19-month-old has watched TV her whole life basically and can say ABCs, count to 20, says sentences and huge words, etc, and I swear it’s from her shows. I even learn activities or crafts to do.” Others suggested that instead of banning screens entirely, parents should focus on creating a healthy balance.

As reported by Parents, studies show that some apps, games, and digital tools can actually sharpen children's minds and support their social and emotional growth in a positive. Julianna Miner, the author of ‘Raising a Screen-Smart Kid: Embrace the Good and Avoid the Bad in the Digital Age,’ and a mom-of-three, said. “When used strategically, screen time can develop cognitive and social skills in most kids. If you think about screen time the way you think about nutrition, there's like digital broccoli and digital ice cream." Creating boundaries can reduce the downsides of screen time while helping kids make the most of it.