Nanny Begins Babysitting Kids Who Never Watch Screens—Then Makes Discovery

A childcare professional has reignited the debate around children and screen time after babysitting a pair of "no-screen" toddlers.

The impact of screen time on young children continues to be a source of discussion in both parenting and academic circles.

A 2023 JAMA Pediatrics study of more than 7,000 children found that higher screen time in infancy was associated with an increased risk of communication and problem-solving delays at ages 2 and 4, with risks increasing as screen time rose.

However, because the study was observational, it could not prove that screen time directly caused those delays.

Now, Zoe Young, a childcare professional based in Austin, Texas, has weighed in on the debate after seeing firsthand the differences between young children who grow up with screens and those who do not.

Young has worked as both a daycare teacher and a nanny. "I spend a great deal of my free time educating myself on early childhood education, infant and toddler brain development, and how to apply gentle parenting techniques to my teaching," she told Newsweek.

In her experience, many parents turn to screens as an easy way to appease young children in otherwise difficult situations.

"A lot of parents use screens like a pacifier to distract their kids when they need a break or, quite frankly, are too lazy to engage with their children," Young said. "Parents don't like being told they're bad at parenting or doing something wrong, even if it's true."

A 2026 study published in Computers in Human Behavior examined 587 parent-child pairs from ages 2.5 to 7.5 and found parents frequently used digital media as a "digital pacifier" to calm young children. Researchers found that higher parental anxiety and lower education was linked to a greater reliance on digital media to regulate emotions.

Young got a taste of what screen-free parenting looks like while babysitting a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old who have "zero screen time."

"They've never seen a movie. They've never seen an iPad. They're not allowed to look at pictures on your phone," she said. "The parents have a projector screen in their bedroom because they don't own a TV."

According to Young, the children spend their time reading and playing, and she considers them among "the most intellectually advanced children" she has encountered in her six years working in childcare.

She said the 2-year-old already speaks in full sentences, while the 4-year-old builds his own biomes and has organized his animal toys by "time period and climate." Young believes part of the reason for their advanced vocabulary is that, without screens, the children are expected to engage in conversation.

She said it's a "very stark" contrast to her experience with young children who regularly have screen time.

"Toddlers who have screen time often are uncomfortable when screens aren't an option," she said.

"They have a harder time entertaining themselves with toys, crafts, nature, and their own imagination. When they lack the instant gratification that comes with YouTube, games, and streaming platforms, they tend to become incredibly frustrated and angry."

Young's concern is that this reliance on instant gratification may eventually affect children in the classroom.

"Hearing the words 'no' or 'not yet' triggers their nervous systems because they're not used to not getting what they want instantly," she said. "If they don't understand something right away, they shut down mentally and emotionally, leading them to react negatively to learning."

Ultimately, Young said the experience of caring for these "no-screen" children has "solidified" what she has long suspected: "Children should never, ever be given screen time."

While experts debate the impact of screen time on young kids, Young believes her experience with the family offers a glimpse of what children can achieve when screens are removed from the equation altogether.