As the executive director of the Children’s Media Research and Reform Lab, Will Maurer knows a thing or two about early childhood development, education, and screen time. Over the years, he has gathered extensive experience in numerous forms of media, but since becoming a father, he has realized that there’s an urgent need, more than ever, to reevaluate screen time policies, production techniques, and their impact on our youngest generation.
Becoming a Father During the Pandemic
When the world shut down a few years ago, Will had the opportunity to watch his first TED Talk. There, on the stage, an expert was discussing the relationship between media, screens, and children under the age of two. As a new father, Will was intrigued – he leaned in with interest to see what the data showed.
His discovery sparked a deep dive into research. Going down that rabbit hole, his experience and scientific inquiry collided. It ignited his mission to reform children’s media; an industry that launched his career. Twenty years later… as a new father, Will found that the guidelines around screen time were rather strict, and were largely being ignored.
Across the board, there’s a “no screens under 2” policy. These policies have discouraged support and funding for age-appropriate research and solutions, leaving parents with developmentally inappropriate content options for children under two.
Nearly everything you read states that toddlers and infants should not be viewing screens at all. But that’s quickly becoming outdated and rather disconnected from reality.
The reality is that these are unregulated industries that provide little support to parents. Instead of a blanket statement of “never any screens ever,” it’s important to redefine educational content and implement evidence-based solutions.
Those early years are critical to shape lifelong learning, and let’s face it, eventually the kids will have access to screens. Setting up reasonable expectations from the beginning is critical.
How We Can Spark a Change
When Will walks off the stage at the Main Event on September 26th, parents in the audience should feel empowered. The shame that comes with navigating screen time decisions should be gone.
We will have learned about the outdated guidelines and the urgent need for reform that prioritizes children’s well-being and development. Because, evidence-based solutions do exist. And with the right tools, families can become more resilient as they become better informed and make mindful choices.
Who Really is Will Maurer?
With a career that spans decades in media leadership, working with global studios, and producing award-winning content, Will is no stranger to media, screens, and entertainment.
However, during the pandemic, the birth of his son shifted his focus from creating entertainment to prioritizing the well-being of children through smarter screen choices. This will be his first time on a TEDx stage, and we’re excited to see his vision for systemic reform.
Learn more about the man behind the talk by reading Will’s interview with Danielle Dahl in Resilient Stories.
