Screens Are Up. Skills Are Down. Here’s How We Can Help.

Hey Reader!

A recent Common Sense media report said more children have screens and they’re spending more time on them!

This is definitely affecting young children’s development in many ways! We’ve all seen it. Lack of motor skills, self-regulation skills, attention span, etc, etc, etc.

So what do we do in our early childhood classrooms to support child development appropriately? We are going to provide rich opportunities for PRACTICING these skills.

1. Fine Motor Strength
👉 Provide daily play with playdough, beads, and tweezers.
👉 Stock art and writing centers with crayons, scissors, and paper.
👉 Encourage “pinch and snip” skills during craft time.

2. Gross Motor Skills
👉 Schedule outdoor play at least twice a day.
👉 Add movement breaks indoors with dancing, yoga, or animal walks.
👉 Set up obstacle courses or balance games to build coordination.

3. Attention Span
👉 Use short, hands-on activities to match children’s focus levels.
👉 Play “stop and go” games like Red Light, Green Light.
👉 Slowly increase task time to build stamina for focus.

4. Language & Communication
👉 Do daily read-alouds with rich vocabulary.
👉 Encourage storytelling, puppet play, and dramatic play.
👉 Model language by narrating routines and conversations.

5. Self-Regulation
👉 Teach deep belly breathing and simple mindfulness routines.
👉 Provide a calm-down corner with soothing tools (pillows, soft toys).
👉 Use turn-taking games to practice waiting and managing impulses.

6. Problem-Solving
👉 Offer open-ended toys like blocks, puzzles, and loose parts.
👉 Ask guiding questions: “What else could we try?” or “How can we fix it?”
👉 Celebrate persistence, not just correct answers.

7. Social Skills
👉 Role-play sharing, kindness, and empathy in circle time.
👉 Use small group games to practice cooperation.
👉 Spotlight teamwork moments with praise and encouragement.

8. Sensory Processing
👉 Add sensory bins (rice, beans, sand, water) for exploration.
👉 Allow short movement breaks between table tasks.
👉 Offer fidgets, weighted items, or textured mats for kids who need extra input.

These seem like typical early childhood classroom activities right? They are! But young children today need more time to practice these very typical early childhood activities. They might need more modeling in HOW to do them. They might need some time in the “struggle” of being bored for a bit before they dig in and investigate further. But rest assured…your highly engaging, hands-on, discovery activities are exactly what young children need to counteract the effects of screentime at home!

Cheering you on this week!

-Your ECCN team

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