For most families, electronic screens are everywhere. Across the country, there are TVs in living rooms, with many households also having them in kitchens, dining rooms, and even bedrooms. Smartphone use is also prolific. Additionally, we have tablets, computers, game consoles, e-readers, and even wearable smartwatches that have screens. So, rather like the movie title, “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” electronic screens are nothing short of ubiquitous. But what effect does watching such screens have on people, particularly children? And is there an argument for taking a significant break from them once in a while? Today’s post explores the topic and explains Why Every Family Should Try a Digital Detox, whether for a day, a week, or significantly longer. Let’s dive in.
Are Electronic Screens Bad for Children?
Common sense alone would dictate that spending hours watching electronic screens is, at the very least, unnatural for children. When you think about it logically, time spent staring at one spot, remaining physically inactive, cannot be good for young – or even old – brains and bodies. Indeed, studies have revealed some unsurprising findings relating to excessive screen use, especially for children, whose young brains and bodies are still in their infancy. Those under five are undergoing rapid brain development, so it’s a particularly crucial time for them. Indeed, new Government guidelines recommend that children under the age of two should not be watching electronic screens alone, while those under five should watch no more than one hour per day.
New* Government guidelines recommend that children under the age of two should not be watching electronic screens alone, while those under five should watch no more than one hour per day.
* 27 March 2026. For more information, click this link to view the BBC video entitled, “How screens Impact Children” and learn more about what they really do to a child’s brain development.
Research surrounding the use of electronic screens by young children includes the following conclusions:
- Excessive screen use, particularly close to bedtime, may interfere with the production of melatonin. This can adversely affect the quality of children’s sleep as well as delay its onset.
- Language development can also become delayed when children watch electronic screens excessively. This is especially true for children under five. Indeed, one study revealed that such children’s language development was three times more likely to be delayed if they watched TV for 3 hours each day.
- In the same study, school-readiness skills were also found to be adversely impacted by screen use.
- Another study found that just 9 minutes of watching fast-paced TV was all it took to — at least temporarily — impair the executive function of children aged 4.
Just 9 minutes of viewing a fast-paced television cartoon had immediate negative effects on 4-year-olds’ executive function.¹
- Source: Lillard AS, Peterson J. “The immediate impact of different types of television on young children’s executive function.” Pediatrics. 2011 Oct;128(4):644-9. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-1919. Epub 2011 Sep 12. PMID: 21911349; PMCID: PMC9923845. View here.
Conversely, there are many benefits associated with taking a significant break from screen time.
What Benefits Can Children Expect from a Digital Detox?
Children who take significant breaks from staring at electronic screens enjoy a wide variety of benefits, including:
A decrease in levels of stress, anxiety, and other emotional difficulties;- A lift in their overall mood;
- Increased well-being;
- Improved physical health and fitness;
- A resetting of their perception of time, with days feeling longer and fuller;
- Improved engagement around physical activities;
- An improvement to social behaviour and skills like cooperation, kindness, and other prosocial tendencies.
A decrease in levels of stress, anxiety, and other emotional difficulties;Studies back up the benefits of unplugging from screens. For example, teens undertaking a 48-hour break away from smartphones for a study experienced improved sleep, an increase in outdoor activities, better engagement with such activities, and improved family interactions.
In another study, children taking part in an unplugged 5-day camp encountered significant improvements in their ability to tune into the feelings and emotions of others. An example of this improved emotional intelligence was that they became more able to recognise the emotional expressions in others.
“Reading with an under-five can boost their language skills by 20%”
The absence of screens also gives parents the opportunity for more reading with their children. That’s important, because studies have shown that reading with an under-five can boost their language skills by 20%. Learn more about the benefits of reading with children here.
Of course, adults and whole households also enjoy related benefits when they unplug from screen use.
How Do Families Benefit from a Digital Detox?
Unplugging from electronic screens has been shown to benefit families as a whole. Days and evenings together seem more relaxed and often feel significantly longer when screens are switched off. Then, families are soon likely to increase levels of connection and presence. Away from screens, there is likely to be more spontaneity and creativity too, with more talking, reading, playing, drawing, and making. Children will often display excitement about beginning each new activity, too. The overall family mood is often also improved, leading to a healthy and congenial atmosphere, with noticeably more laughter. What’s more, everyone becomes more aware of each other, engaging in group or sibling activities more readily, and being overall more attentive to one another. Then, when it’s time for bed, everyone feels more rested, and children will generally fall asleep more easily than ever before. Incredibly, all such benefits and this newfound quality time are achieved simply by stepping away from electronic screens.
The Snowball Effect of Increased Outdoor Activities
When children and families unplug from electronic screens, it becomes natural for them to spend more time outdoors, closer to nature. That’s important because both outdoor play and a closer proximity to nature have incredibly significant benefits all of their own. To demonstrate that using just one example, studies showed that a mere 20 minutes spent closer to nature will improve a child’s happiness. In fact, nature boosts mental health so significantly that even just a view of nature through a window has been shown to boost academic grades, test results, and overall academic focus — incredible!
Further Reading
Click the bold, green links to find out more about why nature is so important to children and the benefits of outdoor play in the early years. Our 12 Outdoor Activities for Little Ones article may also be useful if your family plans to spend less time around electronic screens, and we also published a useful article about Exercise & Active Play for Under-Fives that’s relevant. Away from screens, children are also more likely to get involved in sporting games and activities and, with that in mind, you can read more about the benefits of sport in the early years here.
It’s Why We Have Forest School
So, as you can see, unplugging from screens has a snowball effect and is one of the many reasons why, here at Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, we have regular Forest School sessions. They’re not only great fun for little ones, but also benefit them in a vast number of ways. Through Forest School, they learn new skills, new things about the world, its wonderful flora and fauna, and about their place within it. Empathy, responsibility, curiosity, resilience, emotional intelligence, risk assessment, social and prosocial skills, and so much more are boosted during outdoor exploration and discovery. That’s in stark contrast to the time spent looking at electronic screens. Learn more about Forest School and its benefits here.
A Nursery Place for Your Child, Near Chorley
If you’d like to explore the possibility of a nursery place for your child at 
Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley, we’d love to hear from you. We’re graded as a good childcare provider by Ofsted, have our own Forest School, and accept funded places for eligible children. Full days at Little Acorns Nursery begin at 7:30 am and finish at 6:00 pm too, meaning working families have reliable childcare cover right through the working day.
Select an option below to start exploring a nursery place for your child at Little Acorns:
Little Acorns Nursery is a high-quality childcare nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley. As such, it may also represent a convenient choice for those living nearby, for example, in Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Penwortham, Thorpe Green, Leyland, Whittle-le-Woods, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Lostock Hall, and Euxton.
There is an incredible array of names for parenting styles. You may have heard, for example, of names like helicopter parenting, velcro parenting, indulgent parenting, parent-led parenting, and mindful parenting, along with a myriad of other descriptions. Some styles are quite distinct, others are subtle variations of each other, and several have more than one name. No wonder it’s confusing!
Let’s start with a style that’s often referred to as the ‘gold standard’ of parenting styles — authoritative parenting. For many years, experts have suggested that this particular parenting style has possibly the best overall balance in its approach. However, it’s important not to confuse authoritative parenting, which is fairly gentle, with authoritarian parenting, a far more strict style. Authoritative parenting is thought by experts to have a well-balanced mix of elements in its approach, resulting in good outcomes for children raised under its style. The style typically has the following elements in its make-up:
Gentle parenting is a style that’s been very prominent on social media in recent years. Many may not realise, however, that it’s simply a soft variant of Authoritative parenting. That said, though, it still retains clear rules and boundaries for the child to follow. It’s crucially important, however, not to confuse gentle parenting with permissive parenting (also known as indulgent parenting), which, as the name suggests, has far fewer boundaries — very few in fact. Not so, though, with gentle parenting if approached correctly.
Permissive (a.k.a. Indulgent) parenting is a style that prioritises a child’s happiness over virtually everything else. As such, it’s a warm, empathetic, and loving parenting style. However, rules, structure, and discipline are extremely thin on the ground. Parents and children prioritise fun and their close relationship. When under-fives go through emotional periods in their development, it’s true that this permissiveness can counteract some of their emotional turmoil, but it does come at a cost.
Authoritarian parenting (not to be confused with Authoritative parenting explained earlier) is the harshest of today’s parenting styles. As the name suggests, parents who use this parenting approach tend to be rather like dictators, whose rules must be followed … or else! With this parenting style, children must do what they’re told, often without understanding why, and the parent dominates them. There is no warmth or empathy for the child with this style. What the parent says goes. High standards are usually demanded, with stern discipline and punishments if children do not comply or achieve such standards. There is also no debate, so children’s views are not listened to or taken into account.
Also known as neglectful parenting, uninvolved parenting “does what it says on the tin” i.e. children are very much left to their own devices with this style. They receive no love, affection, or empathy from parents. There are no rules or structure to their daily lives. They receive no guidance, and parents are certainly not role models. Children just have do make to as best they can, unsupported by parents. There may be different reasons for this, of course (not all ‘neglectful’ parents are uninvolved by choice — for example, they may be physically or mentally unwell or be working three jobs just to survive).
Whether you’re planning a family, are already pregnant, or have recently given birth, it’s beneficial to obtain as much knowledge and information as you can so that you are fully prepared. So, when we spotted a comprehensive antenatal course that allows free* access to UK families, we naturally wanted to share the opportunity with parents, expectant parents, and our readers. With that in mind, today’s post introduces you to a Complete Antenatal Course. It’s a free, 8-hour online course, led by midwives, that you can access today. We have already investigated it for you and thought it was fabulous! Read on to learn more about the course contents, highlights, and easy access details to get started — all at zero cost!
Yes — the Complete Antenatal Course is currently free (correct at the time of writing, mid-February 2026). That assumes, of course, that you don’t choose to upgrade to premium options or sign up to other courses etc. We found it quick and easy to sign up without such add-ons — achieving virtually instant access to the course, without cost. That said, some families may consider paid upgrades if they so wish, for example, if they would like access to speak with midwives during the course, or get involved in Q&A sessions. It’s also worth pointing out that the main course is free because it’s funded through a commercial partnership — apparently saving £175! You may therefore see some short commercial clips during the course, but we found them minimal and unobtrusive.
You can currently 
In their earliest years, children’s brains are doing a phenomenal amount of developing. At this stage, little ones understand far more than they can express, and they’re learning to handle powerful emotions without the calm reasoning skills adults (mostly) have. The part of the brain responsible for emotional control is still under construction, so when they’re hungry, tired, frustrated, or simply want something right now, they can easily become overwhelmed. In short, they’re not trying to give you a hard time. They’re having a hard time.
It’s not always easy as a parent, but your own composure is key. A calm, even tone and steady body language tell your child that you’re in control, even if you feel anything but. Also, try avoiding lengthy explanations in the heat of the moment — too many words can overwhelm an emotional toddler.
The nightmare scenario: You’re halfway down the biscuit aisle when your toddler takes an unhealthy shine to a chocolate-covered, sugar-filled snack that’s really not going to be good for them. So, you say no. They flop to the floor, wail at a volume that seems to fill the entire supermarket, and protest in a dramatic fashion that catches the attention of every shopper in the vicinity. Not only is your child in full, public, tantrum mode, but you’re also going to feel judged!
Scenario: At home, your child sees their sibling or a friend playing with the toy they absolutely must have right now. They shout, try to grab the toy, and then the sobbing begins.
Scenario: Dinner is served, and your child takes one look at the plate and decides it’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to them. Cue gesticulating arms, shouting and, in all probability, some dramatic sliding under the table.
National Children’s Gardening Week arrives in late May and is the perfect time for young children to get involved in gardening activities. In celebration of the event, we describe a wonderful gardening-related activity that’s small-scale, easy, fun, and educational — perfect for little ones! The finished result is also rather magical and, once complete, lends itself to imaginative play. Today, we outline how children can make their own miniature fairy gardens. These are a great way to introduce little ones to creative gardening at a child-friendly scale. Under parent supervision* and largely using scavenged materials from outdoors, under-fives can let their imaginations run free and get creative! What’s more, the results are simply enchanting and will bring magic and a whole lot of delight to young children!
National Children’s Gardening Week begins on the 23rd of May for 2026 and runs until the 31st. The timing is no coincidence as it’s generally a warm week and therefore perfect for gardening and growing plants and flowers. What’s more, it also spans the half-term school holiday that most schools recognise in the last week of May.
Little learners, get ready – it’s almost time to buzz into action for World Bee Day! The annual event arrives in May and it’s a brilliant opportunity for children and families to get involved in something meaningful, fun, and full of learning opportunities.
World Bee Day is celebrated every year on 20th May to raise awareness of the vital role that bees and other pollinators play in our world. From helping plants grow and supporting the food we eat every day, bees are some of nature’s hardest workers – and they need our help to survive and thrive.
“Bee together for people and the planet”
Getting involved in World Bee Day isn’t just fun — it also supports many areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), helping children learn and grow in meaningful, hands-on ways. Here are just a few ways bee-related activities can support early development:
Expressive Arts and Design: Making bee crafts, drawing flowers, role-playing as working bees, or moving like insects in a dance — all help develop creativity and imagination.
There are so many fun and simple ways for little learners to join in with World Bee Day! Here are a few activities that are perfect for children under five — each one encourages creativity, curiosity, and care for nature while also supporting the EYFS.
Using paper plates, cardboard tubes, egg cartons or recycled materials, children can create their own bees! Add wings, stripes, googly eyes and antennae for a hands-on creative session. These are wonderfully creative activities that will boost several areas of the EYFS including Expressive Arts & Design and Physical Development.
Explore the garden or outdoor space and, without disturbing them, see what pollinators your child can spot. Can they see any bees? What colours and flowers do they seem to like best? Are they collecting nectar? What type of bees are they? Bumblebees are super cute. Honey bees are super-hard workers and do so much for the world. A bee-spotting activity is a great opportunity to explore areas of the EYFS that include Understanding the World and Communication & Language.
With September 2024 arriving, eligible children aged as young as 9 months can now access free childcare in England. The new childcare ‘hours’ are available where working families are eligible for the support and, in tandem, where local childcare providers are set up with appropriate staffing ratios and capacity. The good news, however, is that Little Acorns Nursery, in Clayton-le-Woods, supports the new scheme. It’s therefore with great pleasure that we’re now beginning to welcome children as young as just 9 months of age for free childcare hours at the Chorley setting.
From September 2024 (so already active), eligible children aged from 9 months to 3 years of age can access 570 hours and eligible children aged 3 and 4 can access 1140 hours of free childcare support per year. The free hours are usually taken over the course of 38 weeks (equating to 15 and 30 hours per week respectively). However, some childcare providers may allow the hours to be spread over more weeks of the year by reducing the number of hours per week. Speak directly to your specific childcare provider about the availability of this more flexible option.
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Little Acorns is a wonderful 
January’s Big Garden Birdwatch is a perfect home learning opportunity where children can find out about wild birds and get a better understanding of nature itself. What’s more, it’s a hugely worthwhile event that will benefit birds, conservation efforts, and children themselves. The activity also demonstrates how easy it is for little ones to become citizen scientists. With that in mind, let’s explore today the Big Garden Birdwatch, explain what it is, how to take part, and why it’s important for families to get involved.
The idea of the Big Garden Birdwatch is to understand how garden birds are faring in the UK. Sadly, many bird populations are in decline, with some species facing huge declines over recent decades. Some 38 million fewer birds are now seen compared to 60 years ago. Song Thrush populations, for example, are down by 80% since the survey started in 1979. Even House Sparrow numbers have more than halved during that time. By studying the bird populations each year, trends can be identified including whether any bird species are in danger. Then the RSPB and other conservation organisations can work out what the problems are and how we might go about rescuing the situation as a nation. It also follows that, if there is a problem with bird populations, then there is likely to be a wider problem in nature too. This could be, for example, due to disease, over-intensive farming methods, habitat loss, invasive species, climate change, use of chemicals in gardens and farmland, and so on. Gathering data across the UK each January will help guide the nation to improve things — and children can help by getting involved in the Big Garden Birdwatch each January.
— it’s quick, easy and free to do so. Once registered you’ll receive detailed instructions in your free guide to the event, which includes your free bird identification reference sheet. This will be useful to you and your children so each bird species can be recognised more easily.
This wonderful activity is a great way to encourage families outdoors, where children benefit from nature in a myriad of ways. From lower stress and increased well-being to improved academic performance, stimulated imaginations, and better sleep, 
Together with the RSPB, we also have bird identification covered for children. The first option is the RSPB’s free bird reference sheet, which families will receive when they register for the event. Their digital version is best because it’s more environmentally friendly, is quicker to access, and usually shows a larger list than is shown on their printed version.
However, don’t forget that Little Acorns Nursery also published 
How to Encourage Birds to Visit Your Garden
