Why “Screen Time” Can Be Good For Autistic Children
Screen time — and especially video games — is a common topic that crops up in discussions about autism, usually to warn parents about the “dangers” of screen time for autistic children. I would argue that in many cases, screen time can actually be good for autistic children, and maybe we can let go of some of the fear, shame and parent blame around screens. My view is based on my lived experience as an autistic person myself, and a parent of two autistic children.
What does ‘screen time’ actually mean anyway?
When we break it down, the concept of ‘screen time’ can actually refer to a multitude of different activities. It’s easy to assume that screen time is a passive activity, such as watching TV. But it can also be creative, for example writing, drawing, making videos, or creating a Minecraft world. And it can be educational — such as watching documentaries, researching a topic of interest, taking an online course, or developing ‘soft skills’ through gaming such as frustration tolerance or teamwork, as well as practical skills like reading, navigating using maps or coordinates, and hand-eye coordination.
Imagine if a young child spent an afternoon reading a storybook for pleasure, looking up some information in a non-fiction book and writing about it in an exercise book, and drawing pictures to give to their grandparents. Would you be worried that they were having too much ‘paper time’? Or would you see it as a good use of their time? Would you feel differently if they were reading a story on a tablet, looking up information online and then writing about it in a slideshow, and drawing on an app, and if so why?
What is it about ‘screen time’ that causes so much worry? Is it really justified?
New technology and moral panics
Did you know that after the introduction of the printing press made books cheap and accessible to the general public for the first time, there were fears that reading would turn children to a life of crime and violence? When trains were invented, some people feared that women’s uteruses would fall out. Check out this anti-electricity propaganda cartoon from 1889 entitled “An Urestrained Demon”! In 1941, a study warned of children becoming addicted to ‘movie horrors and radio crime’.
Interestingly, these moral panics around new technology follow an entirely predictable cycle identified by Amy Orben in 2020. They often focus on warning parents against the dangers to their children. Before social media, we were warned about the risks of video games for children, before video games we were warned about television, before television we were warned about comic books, before comic books we were warned about radio …. and so on. It seems that each time technology moves on, the same questions and concerns crop up time and time again. The old technology becomes accepted and we start worrying about the next new thing**.** So it seems likely that at least some of our concerns around screen time are just part of our natural tendency to be cautious about new technology.
Is screen time bad for autistic children?
As with non-autistic children, it depends what they are doing during ‘screen time’. Are they learning, relaxing, self-regulating, connecting with others, being creative, diving into a dedicated interest or simply enjoying some down time? Or are they falling down a rabbit hole of upsetting content, playing aggressive or addictive games that make them feel dysregulated, or getting angry with strangers on the internet?
It’s also worth considering what our children are not doing when they are spending time on screens. If screen time is taking over and stopping them from doing other things they enjoy, connecting with people they care about in real life, or looking after themselves, that’s obviously not ideal. However, increased or excessive screen time could merely be a warning sign that our child is having difficulties — rather the cause of them. It could be a sign that they need more support with things, or that expectations are too high.
In addition, if a child is in autistic burnout, they may not be able to do those things anyway. In this case, it’s not screen time that is stopping them from doing those things, and in fact having more screen time than usual could even be helpful while they rest and recuperate. Taking away something that brings them some relief and enjoyment will only make things worse.
Why are screens beneficial for autistic people?
In a world that is not designed for us, for some autistic people screens can be the one place where we feel competent and confident, on an equal footing with others or maybe even at an advantage. They might also be the one activity where we can genuinely relax and enjoy ourselves.
In addition, despite the misconception that it is a solitary and isolating way to spend your time, screens can actually make socialising easier. This is because there is a shared focus, and there is less need for continuous conversation. Plus, parallel play — being in the same room together while doing separate activities — is a common autistic play style, and screens really lend themselves to this. In addition, even when not actively using screens, many kids (and adults!) often enjoy talking about popular video games, TV and movies and these conversations may be easier for us to join in with than ‘small talk’.
For children who struggle with making mistakes, using screens can make it easier to ‘have a go’ at trying new things. If they’re drawing on paper and it goes wrong, they might get upset, screw the paper up and refuse to try again. But on a digital drawing app they can simply use the ‘undo’ function and it’s like it never happened. If you’re writing on paper and it goes wrong, you either have to cross out or rub out the mistake — and you can still see it. Whereas on a computer, the delete button leaves no eraser marks.
How to handle screen time for autistic children
If your child loves screens, lean into it, and use it as a way to connect with them. What is it that your child really loves doing on screens? Do more of that. Watch their favourite show together, watch them gaming, or better yet, join in and game with them! Gaming together can help strengthen your bond with your child. Encourage them to share what they are excited about and let them infodump.
You can also use screens as an alternative form of communication with your child using child-appropriate messenger apps. This can take pressure off needing to speak and actually encourage more communication.
If you’re concerned that they’re not active enough, are there ways that you can use screens to support them to be more active? Games like Pokemon Go involve walking around in real life. Most consoles have dancing games. The Nintendo Switch has a number of games that require some movement, as well as specific ‘exercise’ games like Ringfit. For older children, playing on a VR headset involves moving around — and some VR games like Beatsaber are pretty energetic.
The online world also offers possibilities to connect with like-minded others through shared interests. Obviously it is essential to be mindful of online safety, but it is possible for children to make friends online while protecting them from potential dangers. One way to do this is by seeking out and connecting with other parents of children with similar interests yourself, or alternatively there are some online organisations that have created safe online spaces for autistic young people to meet each other or access 1–1 mentorship with an adult.
Of course, there are some aspects of screens that can become problematic, like in-game purchases or frustration when losing a game. And many aspects of ‘screen time’ are designed to make us spend longer doing things than we intended. But the answer is not to restrict or ban screens as a whole. Instead we need to think about how we can support our children with those specific difficulties. Screens are a huge part of our culture now, and it’s important to learn how to manage the issues that can arise.
With regards to video games specifically, if you’re worried that your child is becoming addicted, firstly it’s important to note that there is a lack of evidence that video game addiction actually exists. Therefore, it is safer to assume someone who plays a lot of video games is not addicted. However, they may be using video games as a coping strategy for life stresses, in which case it can be a good idea to look at ways to reduce stress and increase support in other areas of their life.
Screen time can be good for autistic children
Screen time in itself is not inherently bad for autistic children, and in many cases, can be really beneficial. Modern technology can make the world more accessible for them, and provide opportunities to develop skills and learn new things. It can make it easier to find and communicate with people with shared interests. Plus, it can also be a great tool to help them enjoy themselves, in all sorts of different ways.
Further reading
Want to learn more about the benefits of screens, reasons why screens can be so appealing to children, and how to manage screen time for your kids? Here are some great resources:
- Screens Screens Screens by Dr Naomi Fisher
- Why Gaming is Actually Good for Autistic Children by Andy Smith, founder of Spectrum Gaming
- Sense and Nonsense About Video Game Addiction and Benefits of Play Revealed in Research on Video Gaming by Peter Gray at Psychology Today
- The Psychology of Screens by Ana Fabrega
- How to Turn Your Life Into a Video Game by Jessica McCabe at How to ADHD
