Our Rewildhood Field Guide.

A Practical Guide for Growing Up Digital

  • Ideally: 0 hours of screen time
    Video calls with family and friends, and the occasional soothing story video for desperate moments.

    From the Canadian Paediatric Society:
    Screen time for children younger than 2 years is not recommended apart from video chatting with caring adults.

    What kids should be doing:
    Climbing soft surfaces, exploring their environment, playing with family, listening to voices, learning new words, being held and talked to.

    Books:
    Board books, touch-and-feel books, simple picture books
    Sandra Boynton, Eric Carle, Indestructibles series

    Why it matters:
    They learn to focus on the physical world — and how to belong in it.

  • Screen range:
    ~1 hour total on weekdays
    Up to 2 hours on weekends

    Make screen time intentional. Calm, story-based, and slow.
    Given the choice, kids usually prefer talking, playing, or being read to.

    High-quality shows:
    Bluey, Daniel Tiger, Sesame Street, Little Bear, Puffin Rock, Octonauts, Rupert

    Intentional media:
    Family movie afternoons
    Watching together
    Talking about characters and feelings

    What kids should be doing:
    Climbing and safe risk-taking, building without instructions, waiting their turn, helping with chores, getting muddy, learning emotions, navigating friendships.

    Books:
    Picture books, short chapter books
    Elephant & Piggie
    Frog and Toad
    Pete the Cat
    Bear Snores On
    Robert Munsch

    Why it matters:
    They learn that frustration passes — and they can handle it.

  • Screen range:
    1–2.5 hours/day

    Still no phone.
    Screens stay in shared spaces.

    Good screen choices:
    Wild Kratts
    Magic School Bus
    Avatar: The Last Airbender
    Studio Ghibli films
    Nature documentaries
    Family movies

    Intentional media:
    Movie night
    Watching together
    Talking about bravery, fairness, and mistakes

    What kids should be doing:
    Walking ahead on the sidewalk, playing without adults running the game, learning to lose, joining clubs or teams, being bored without a device.

    Books:
    Magic Tree House
    Nate the Great
    The Boxcar Children
    Junie B. Jones
    Mercy Watson
    Graphic novels like Narwhal & Jelly

    Why it matters:
    They learn confidence comes from trying, not watching.

    ❋ Tech Introductions ❋
    Kids walk farther, bike more, and start going places without adults right beside them. Tracking devices with the ability to talk to your child gives you the peace of mind needed to feel comfortable with their newfound freedoms.

    Recommended devices: Garmin Bounce Watch, TickTalk 4 Watch, Xplora Watch

    What these do:
    ✔ GPS location
    ✔ calling approved contacts
    ✔ no web browser
    ✔ no social media

    Another device worth considering is a land-line. Recommended Devices: The discarded land-line collecting dust in the basement or a Tin Can phone.

  • Screen range:
    2–4 hours/day (school + social + entertainment)

    Focus on:
    Judgment
    Time management
    Self-control
    Social awareness

    Good screen choices:
    Communication
    Learning tools
    Creative projects
    Some entertainment

    Intentional media:
    Stories about peer pressure
    Content about fairness and mistakes
    Media literacy
    Conversations about comparison

    What kids should be doing:
    Taking public transit, babysitting, helping younger kids, managing time, leading small tasks, sticking with things that feel hard.

    Books:
    The Hunger Games
    The Giver
    The Outsiders
    Graphic novels like Nimona

    Why it matters:
    This is the emotional training ground before high school.

    ❋ Tech Introductions ❋
    This is when phones often arrive — but social media doesn’t have to.

    Recommended devices:
    Flip phone
    Tin Can Phone
    Managed smartphone (optional)

    What these do:
    ✔ calling and texting
    ✔ limited apps
    ✔ no open app store
    ✔ parental controls
    ✔ no social media

    Helpful rules:

    • Phones charge outside bedrooms

    • No scrolling at meals

    • No private app stores

    • Regular check-ins about what they see

    Another device worth considering is a landline.

  • By this stage, the doors are more open — and that’s the point. With years of real-world experience, media literacy, and gradual exposure behind them, teens are better equipped to be assertive, know who they are, and make thoughtful choices online. This is less about control and more about connection. Regular check-ins, honest conversations, and staying curious about what they’re seeing and feeling help ensure they’re not navigating the digital world alone. Independence grows best when it’s paired with support.

Let’s bring childhood back into focus.

By aligning around shared values for play, challenge, and thoughtful tech use, we can give kids the space they need to grow strong before growing online.

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Our Approach

We’re not anti-technology.
We’re pro-development.

When real-life skills come first, digital life becomes easier to manage later. We delay personal smartphones and social media so children can first learn to handle boredom, navigate conflict, take physical risks and build real confidence.

OUR INTENTIONS

❋ Supportive, not strict

These aren’t rules — they’re shared starting points. Families adapt what works for them, without pressure or perfection.

❋ Progress over perfection

Small shifts matter. One more walk. One less scroll. One brave try. That’s enough.

❋ Shame-free and practical

No guilt. No parent-blame. Just tools that fit real schedules, real kids, and real life.

❋ Easier together

When families move in the same direction, choices feel lighter and less lonely.

Research

We borrow heavily from the people who study media and children for a living. Here are some of their best insights, organized by age.

Organizations

❋ Common Sense Media
Independent research and practical guidance on kids, media, and technology.

❋ Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS)
National medical guidance on children’s health and media use in Canada.

❋ American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Evidence-based guidance on child health, screen time, and development.

❋ World Health Organization (WHO)
Global guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and screen time.

❋ Let Grow
Research and programs supporting independence, resilience, and free play.

❋ The Anxious Generation
Research on how smartphones and social media impact childhood and adolescence.