A discussion about parenting (throw the tablet at them?)

[GuessTheAltAccount]

Tablets aren't the problem, Internet-accessing tablets are. A medium of billions of participants can't all have the best of intentions.

[Thepeopl]

I'd say it is age dependent. But very young children need lots of playtime outside to learn how to use their body and mind well. Skills like climbing, falling, biking, swimming can't help learned from the internet.
Still, having some screen time allows them to talk with peers. (4 yo who haven't seen "baby shark" won't connect as easily as 4 yo who have.)
Also, screen time (say play station "just dance" or other dance/ sports/ party games) can stimulate children to move.
As a parent, I really really hate "Dora the adventurer", "Teletubbies", any song from "sesame street " and any other intro/ song which has been played/ sung more than 100 times in my surroundings. And yes, Baby Shark is one of them.
I love snuggling up with my youngsters and reading a book, asking them questions or letting them read. I also value my "do not disturb,I am reading " time.

Also, my teens keep in contact with their friends via internet. They need screen time (looking at you pandemic) to have social connections. If possible, they'll meet up in person. But if not, they still can talk/ game/ hang via screens.

My experience, monkey see, monkey do.
If the parents are active outside, reading books, cooking themselves; their children will follow.

So yeah, if you want your children to spend less time on screens... put it away yourself first.

For OP: be the fun uncle/ aunt who does things with nieces/ nephews. Ask whether they wanna bake cookies, be prepared
https://www.delscookingtwist.com/chocol ... ble-label/
Or gift them books you want to read with them, do research where the nearest playgrounds are. Bring games you want to play with them.
It can be just your imagination, or a pen with paper. My 6 yo likes guessing games in which you give some description of an animal and the other guess (like :it has 4 paws, it licks a lot, it wags its tail when happy, what is it?)
Give the right example to the parents how to involve niece/ nephews