Screen time is a reality for every child, and instead of fighting it, educators should rethink how they use it to support creativity, connection, and mental health.
Not all screen time is created equal. These days, people often associate screen time with unhealthy social media use. But screen time can also be creative, and beneficial when designed with purpose and managed with control.
Connection Through Shared Digital Experiences
Teachers and parents often talk about screen time as something to limit or avoid, but it can also be a tool for building stronger relationships. One of the simplest ways to flip the narrative is by being present with kids while they're on devices. Whether it's watching cartoons or playing video games, parents can use those moments to ask questions and start conversations.
When he plays Baseball 9 with his friends, I ask, "Are you pitching here? What kind of bat are you using? Do you think you'll be able to steal a base?" That shared experience turns screen time into connection time. Even when he's watching Garfield, we find ways to connect. Garfield loves lasagna, so one week we made it a fun challenge to try lasagna from different places—it turned into a playful way to explore new flavors together. I noticed that these simple things actually sparked conversations between us and brought us closer. Digital platforms should be used to strengthen the bond between parents and children, not to replace it.
The key is to not leave kids alone to consume content for hours, but rather to use screens as a channel to really connect with our children. Parents can't completely eliminate technology, so we must learn how to use it thoughtfully.
Digital Tools as Creative Outlets
Digital tools give kids a space to express their emotions and creativity in powerful ways. I remember taking my son to one of his activities and seeing a middle school girl drawing quietly on the side. When the coach asked why, she said, "I love to draw and write because it soothes me." That moment stayed with me.
Writing, drawing, and creating music are all forms of self-soothing, and screens can support those outlets when designed with intention. Research supports this, too: a 2023 study by the Adobe Foundation and National Alliance on Mental Illness found that more than 60% of young people who engage in creative activities like painting and writing report reduced feelings of stress and anxiety, along with improved confidence.
When my son recorded a quirky song on his school iPad, he found joy in sharing his creation. It's not about the medium; it's about the freedom to express. “Even if they're on a screen, they're still creating. That's the difference: using tech as a tool for self-expression instead of distraction.” In the same way that students have moved from writing on paper to typing on screens, they evolve with the tools around them. It's not about the screen; it's about how they use it.
Fostering Positive Peer Influence
I also see how healthy digital environments can encourage positive peer influence. When students know their creative work will be seen by friends, they push themselves a little harder. My son isn't a confident artist, but when he realized others would see his drawings, he became more intentional about his work. He also started wanting to write a book because one of his friends was writing one. That gentle, positive competitiveness inspires growth, not comparison.
This kind of peer influence is so much healthier than the negative competition and inappropriate content kids often encounter on traditional social media platforms. One of my son’s teachers once told me that kids love seeing what their peers create and they especially love offering feedback. It’s part of how they learn, connect, and express themselves. Kids need a space to do just that: to create, share, and engage with each other’s ideas in a way that feels natural and fun. It taps into what they already enjoy, while encouraging curiosity, collaboration, and confidence.
Building Mental Health Support into Digital Spaces
For this generation, screens have already become part of daily life. The competition level is higher than it used to be, and kids are facing more pressure and negative influences online. This makes it even more important to create digital tools that put student voices, emotions, and relationships first. Spaces designed specifically for young learners harness their natural desire to connect and compete in positive ways.
Platforms with built-in safety features, age-appropriate content, and parental controls give families the tools they need to navigate technology safely. On Urban Sandbox, for example, parents receive notifications every 30 minutes when their child is using the platform, allowing them to track usage and ensure healthy limits.
Some platforms are going a step further by embedding mental health tools directly into the digital experience. With a focus on early support and nurturing kids on a daily basis, Urban Sandbox enhances the platform by integrating a three-tiered well-being program, which is developed in collaboration with clinical psychologists and peer counselors, offers students opportunities for creative expression, emotional check-ins, and real-time support—all within a safe, age-appropriate environment.
By eliminating ads and inappropriate content, and by weaving in structured support systems, these digital spaces allow students to focus on creativity and connection without the distractions and dangers of the broader internet.
Looking Forward
As our world changes, technology becomes more deeply woven into our lives. The question isn't how to eliminate screen time—it's how to make it meaningful through controlled, intentional use. Digital tools that are emotionally safe, creatively rich, and socially connected, give students what they truly need: a place to belong, express, and grow.
My vision is simple: every child should have access to affordable, high-quality resources that support their emotional well-being and creativity every day. We’re trying to replace human connection or traditional learning—we're enhancing it. By partnering with credible psychologists and educators, and by keeping parents at the center of their child's digital experience, we can create technology that truly serves our students' best interests. The goal isn't to eliminate screens from childhood, but to ensure that when children are using technology, it empowers them to be more creative, more connected, and more confident in who they are.
About the author
Danna Okuyama is the founder and CEO of Urban Sandbox. To learn more about the Well Being Program, visit https://www.urban-sandbox.com. She can be reached at danna@urban-sandbox.com.
