06/06/2026
Entertainment captures attention. Engagement develops the brain.
Of course, there is a place for entertainment. Entertainment is enjoyable, restorative, social, and even educational at times.
But the distinction matters because entertainment and engagement are not the same thing.
This is especially important when it comes to screens. Many apps, videos, and games are designed to capture attention. They may keep a child focused on a screen, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are building focus.
This helps explain why some children can attend to a screen for two hours, yet struggle to attend to a book for two minutes.
Fast-paced, highly stimulating, constantly novel experiences provide frequent rewards and can shape what the brain expects from an activity. Over time, slower-paced activities may feel less interesting, less rewarding, and more difficult to sustain. In other words, the brain begins to expect a higher level of stimulation, making activities that require effort, patience, and persistence harder to engage with.
What develops the brain is play, movement, exploration, curiosity, conversation, creativity, imagination, problem-solving, experimentation, risk-taking, responsibility, persistence, boredom, struggle, and meaningful human connection. These experiences require children to actively participate in the world around them rather than simply consume it.
So when it comes to screens, think screen time smart. Choose intentional over constant. Choose a shared screen over an individual device whenever possible. Choose movies and shows with sequence, storyline, and depth over short-form, fast-paced videos designed to rapidly capture attention.
And perhaps most importantly, let children be bored.
Boredom is not a problem to solve. It is often the starting point for curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, play, and true engagement. If we constantly entertain children, we may unintentionally rob them of the very experiences that help their brains grow.
