Is screen time a threat to your child’s development—or could it be their biggest learning opportunity? In this honest and enlightening conversation, a concerned parent voices what so many feel: anxiety about handing a PC to their child. Dr. Malpani offers a refreshing, empowering perspective—explaining why how a child uses a screen matters far more than how long. Discover how screen time can be transformed from passive entertainment into active, joyful learning—when guided by trust and curiosity.
Rina : Dr. Malpani, I really liked your talk about digital learning pods. But I have to be honest—I’m still uncomfortable about one thing.
Dr. Malpani: Let me guess—screen time?
Rina (smiling): Guilty as charged! I mean, isn’t too much screen time bad for kids? I keep reading articles about how screens ruin attention spans and cause addiction. And if I hand my child a PC every day, won’t she just end up playing games or bingeing on videos?
Dr. Malpani: Rina, I really appreciate your honesty—and your concern is valid. In fact, I hear this from almost every parent I speak to. But let me ask you something—is it the screen that worries you, or what your child might do with it?
Rina: Well, both, I guess. But mostly, I don’t want her to become dependent on it or lose the habit of reading books and doing things offline.
Dr. Malpani: That makes sense. But here’s the thing—screen time is not the enemy. It’s not about how many hours your child spends in front of a screen. It’s about what they’re doing on it. Not all screen time is created equal.
Rina: What do you mean?
Dr. Malpani: Watching brainless cartoons for hours and designing your own animation with AI tools are both screen time—but one is passive consumption, while the other is active creation. The screen is just a window. It can open up a world of knowledge—or it can shut down thinking. It depends on how it’s used.
Rina: That makes sense. But what if she misuses it?
Dr. Malpani: That’s where your role as a parent is so powerful—not as a controller, but as a guide. Kids today are growing up in a digital world. We can’t shield them from screens forever. But we can help them develop a healthy, smart relationship with technology.
Rina: But how? That’s what I struggle with.
Dr. Malpani: Instead of rationing screen time like junk food, teach your daughter how to use the screen as a tool. Show her how to research, code, design, write, and solve real-world problems. Let her explore YouTube tutorials, build her own projects, or even write a blog. If she learns these skills now—under your supervision—she’ll be better equipped to use tech responsibly and creatively. When she asks you a question, go with her to the PC and show her how you use the PC to find answers ! Act as a role model, and she will emulate you ! And you will learn in the process, as you explore what interests her together.
Rina (thoughtful): That’s very different from the advice I usually hear. Most parenting blogs just say “limit screen time.”
Dr. Malpani: That advice often comes from a place of fear, not understanding. I get it—many of us grew up in a world without screens. But that world is gone. Today’s children need to learn how to learn using technology. And if we don’t help them, they’ll either misuse it in secret—or worse, fall behind in a world that demands digital fluency.
Rina: But don’t schools teach these things?
Dr. Malpani: Unfortunately, most don’t. Many schools ban phones and restrict computer access. They’re still teaching from 20-year-old textbooks while the world outside has changed completely. AI, coding, content creation—these aren’t optional extras anymore. They’re basic life skills.
Rina: So what happens to kids whose parents restrict screen time too much?
Dr. Malpani: That’s the tragedy. With the best of intentions, we end up handicapping them. We think we’re protecting them, but we’re actually denying them exposure to tools that could make them independent, creative, and employable in the future. A child who doesn’t know how to use a PC or AI tools will be at a serious disadvantage—not just in college, but in life.
Rina (worried): I never thought of it like that.
Dr. Malpani: You’re not alone. That’s why it’s time to move from restriction to responsibility. Let’s not fear technology—let’s teach our children how to master it. And the best way to do that is to give them guided freedom—through a digital learning pod.
Rina: But what if I don’t have a background in tech? How can I supervise or guide her?
Dr. Malpani: You don’t need to be a tech expert. Just be a curious parent. Sit with her sometimes, ask her to explain what she’s doing. Explore online courses together. Ask her to teach you something she’s learned. You’ll be amazed at how much children can figure out when they feel trusted and supported.
Rina (smiling): That sounds doable. And kind of fun.
Dr. Malpani: It is fun! Learning is supposed to be. And when your child sees that you trust her to use powerful tools like a PC, she’ll rise to the occasion. She won’t feel the need to sneak screen time—because she’ll be owning it for learning, not escaping into it.
Rina: I guess the real shift has to happen in us—the parents.
Dr. Malpani: Exactly. If we view screens as a threat, our children will either fear them—or misuse them. But if we treat screens as tools and teach our children how to use them well, they’ll become creators, not consumers. Leaders, not followers.
Rina: Thank you, Dr. Malpani. I think it’s time I stopped seeing screen time as a battle and started seeing it as an opportunity.
Dr. Malpani: That’s the spirit! Take matters in your own hands by starting your own digital learning pod – your children will not get a second chance!
👉 https://www.teachtoearn.in/start-a-teach-to-earn-learning-pod/
Don’t fear the screen—reclaim it. With the right mindset, your child’s screen can become a window to a world of learning.