Gamified math. Video read-alouds. Why parents are saying no to screens in class

"It breaks my heart. My kid comes home and she doesn't tell me about her teacher, she doesn't tell me about her classmates. She tells me about JiJi the penguin from her gamified learning app. Edwards has been told that her daughter spends 15 to 30 minutes a day with JiJi. But even in small doses what concerns Edwards is that Jiji is a central character in her child's school day."

"Grassroots coalitions across California and nationwide are emerging in school districts, including in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Marcos, as parents grow increasingly alarmed that digital activities are replacing hands-on learning and peer interaction with little oversight. Groups want more transparency on technology use, strict limits on screen time and more rigorous vetting on software products."

"Gamified lessons on individual devices and video-directed read-alouds and sing-alongs have become more common in elementary school since the pandemic, including in transitional kindergarten and kindergarten. Nearly one third of parents say their children under age 8 have used AI for school-related material, according to Common Sense Media, which surveyed more than 1,500 families."

Parents nationwide are forming grassroots coalitions to address excessive classroom screen time in elementary schools, particularly in California districts like Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Marcos. They report that gamified learning apps and digital activities have become central to young children's school days, sometimes replacing traditional instruction and peer interaction. Concerns include lack of transparency about technology use, insufficient vetting of software products, and conflicts with home screen restrictions. Since the pandemic, digital tools like educational apps and video-directed lessons have become increasingly common in transitional kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms. Parents seek stricter limits on screen time and more rigorous oversight of technology implementation in schools.

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