Parents across the country are calling for less screen time for children in elementary schools, where devices like iPads and Chromebooks are often being used for entertainment rather than education, multiple news outlets report.
Screen use in schools soared during the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained the same ever since. Parental advocacy efforts and legislative pushback on screen time have been growing in 2026.
Excessive screen time has been linked to anxiety, depression, obesity, attention problems and delayed social skills in children, several studies have shown.
Meanwhile, some schools are being accused of using screens to keep kids occupied or quiet.
Parents are organizing petitions, forming community groups and lobbying lawmakers to limit the amount of time their children use screens in school. And some teachers are independently ditching devices in favor of hands-on learning, news outlets report.
Several districts have begun rolling back screen use for younger students, and several states have introduced legislation to set limits.
• Juliet La Sala can be reached at jlasala@washingtontimes.com.
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