Aotearoa Educators Collective says National’s proposed restrictions on screen use for young children risk targeting the wrong part of the problem, arguing greater attention should be placed on supporting parents and whānau.
National has proposed ending screen and individual-device use in early childhood education and tightly restricting it during the early years of primary school if re-elected. The Aotearoa Educators Collective, or AEC, supports a stronger focus on play, physical development, oral language and social interaction, but says individual device use is already uncommon across most early childhood centres.
The group argues much of a young child’s exposure to screens occurs at home, meaning education and practical support for parents could have a greater impact than restrictions targeting ECE services.
AEC is also drawing attention to technoference — when adult use of phones and other devices interrupts interaction between parents or caregivers and children. The group says responsive face-to-face engagement is particularly important for language, emotional regulation and early development.
Research reviews have also identified parental screen habits and household rules as important influences on screen use among preschool children, while noting further research is needed as technology and patterns of use continue to change.
AEC is calling for deeper research and greater engagement with educators before major policy changes are introduced, saying children’s development and mental health are too complex for a single solution.
The debate now puts a wider question on the election agenda: whether reducing screen time should primarily focus on what happens in the classroom and ECE centre, or whether more resources should be directed towards helping parents and whānau manage technology at home.
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