Beyond Screen Time Guilt: The Role of TV and Video in Early Child Development (Paperback or Softback)

Beyond Screen Time Guilt: The Role of TV and Video in Early Child Development by Cary Bazalgette offers a fresh and insightful perspective on babies’ and toddlers’ relationship with moving image media. Forget the guilt-inducing screen time rules and dire warnings about developmental harm – this book reveals what’s really happening when your little one is captivated by their favourite show.

Drawing on meticulous observational research and 35 years of media education expertise, Cary Bazalgette uncovers the remarkable ways in which children under three actively engage with film and television. Bazalgette critiques the flawed research behind screen time rules, exposing the limitations of surveys and experimental studies in this context. She provides vivid examples of typical behaviours, such as spontaneous laughter, frightened responses, and apparent "addiction," while analysing the learning challenges that young children eagerly embrace. The book also emphasises the value of shared viewing experiences and offers detailed insights into how specific TV episodes foster learning.

With its clear style, good humour, and evidence-based reassurance, Beyond Screen Time Guilt is an essential read for parents, early childhood practitioners and students. It transforms how we understand the relationship between young children and moving image media, offering a refreshing and informed alternative to screen-use guidelines.

Cary Bazalgette is an Honorary Research Associate at UCL Institute of Education, within the Department of Culture, Communication and Media. She specialises in how people learn to understand moving image media. After teaching in London schools, she worked at the British Film Institute from 1979 to 2007, including eight years as Head of Education. Her primary focus has been on developing good practices in media education and advocating for its importance as an essential entitlement for all learners. Currently, her research focuses on how children begin learning about moving image media before age three. Cary draws on her 35 years of experience in education about moving image media, as well as her personal experiences as a parent and grandparent. For more information, visit www.carybazalgette.net.