I’m excited to join the Real Talk with Real Moms series this year. Each month, several thoughtful moms pick a topic and share their perspective. I’ve read this series for years, even before I became a mom, so it feels a little surreal to contribute now.
This month’s topic is playtime and screen time. I’ve mentioned Arlo’s favorite toys and books before, but here’s an update on what he’s into at 22 months and how we approach screens. We keep things flexible and aim for balance between screen time and active play. Below I summarize our typical approach, and I also list some of his favorite shows and at-home activities.
I’ll be honest: screen time wasn’t a parenting hill I wanted to die on. Both Jeff and I enjoy shows and movies, so pretending they don’t exist felt unrealistic. Instead, we set informal limits and make sure Arlo has plenty of stimulating, active play as well. No strict rules, but here’s how we generally handle it:
On weekdays: Most mornings we put on a short show or movie while we get breakfast ready or take a few extra minutes to wake up.
On weekends: We usually watch a movie or show together on at least one weekend evening, plus a short morning show.
When we’re sick: Rest matters, and Arlo doesn’t slow down without help—TV is a useful tool when he’s under the weather (and when we’re sick too).
On airplanes: All rules go out the window. An iPad keeps him in one spot and helps us all survive the flight.
At restaurants: We only use a phone or tablet as a last resort after snacks, activities, and distractions have run out. He usually watches with the sound off, which helps keep things calm.
Sometimes he watches more, sometimes less. We avoid screens right before bed because they interfere with falling asleep. When he’s watched too much, we can tell—he often wants only TV and his behavior shifts, so we pull back. Overall, the balance feels healthy for our family right now.
A few of Arlo’s current favorite shows and movies:
- Monsters, Inc. (we recorded this on Disney Channel and play it often)
- Coco (Netflix)
- Toy Story (Freeform or Disney Channel, on demand)
- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (Disney Junior)
- Fancy Nancy (Disney Junior)
- Puppy Dog Pals (Disney Junior)
- Paw Patrol (Nick)
- Llama Llama (Netflix)
- Curious George (PBS or Netflix)
- Dave & Ava (YouTube) in English and Spanish (we also bought the app because it keeps his attention, and it’s what he watches on planes)
I’d love recommendations for educational toddler shows or Spanish-language options. We’d like to incorporate more Spanish for Arlo and for ourselves.
Outside of screens, we’re always looking for activities that hold Arlo’s attention for longer than a few minutes. We get him out of the house frequently—walks, parks, errands—because he gets restless quickly. At home, these activities have been favorites lately:
- Painting or coloring (painting keeps him engaged longer, though it’s messier)
- Filling up the sink with water and soap and letting him wash dishes (a great suggestion we tried and loved)
- Baking or cooking together—this is when he’s happiest. A learning stool has been one of our best investments.
- Building towers with small wooden blocks
- Dancing and singing (he loves pretending a kitchen utensil is a microphone)
- Sorting beans or felt balls
- Playing with his train set
We’re thinking about making playdough soon and hope to get him a play kitchen for his birthday, along with pots and pans he can use to hide things in. I enjoy project-based activities like baking and painting more than unstructured play—anyone else feel the same?
More Parenting Tips & Thoughts
- How we taught our toddler to shower
- Our parenting philosophy on kids’ toys (and how to get family on board)
- How to survive flying with a baby or toddler: tips, gear, and favorite plane activities
- Our toddler bedtime routine
That’s a snapshot of Arlo’s favorite activities and our approach to screen time. Share your toddler’s favorite shows and activities below so we can all pick up new ideas for keeping these busy little ones entertained!