Parents urged to shun 'digital babysitting' trend

The Ministry of Education has recently launched the 2026 National Preschool Education Publicity Month campaign, urging kindergartens nationwide to ensure that play remains the primary activity for young children and discourage an overreliance on digital devices.

The ministry has also called on parents to adopt child-rearing practices that emphasize companionship, play, sports and time in nature, while discouraging so-called digital babysitting.

It stressed that digital products — such as reading companions, chat-based tools and interactive games — must not replace physical picture books and toys.

Digital tools should also not be used to directly generate child observation records or assessments.

According to the ministry, there are persisting misunderstandings about the role of digital applications in early childhood education, alongside misleading marketing by some commercial entities and the improper or excessive use of digital products by some local authorities and kindergartens.

During the campaign period, a series of public awareness activities will be held nationwide, bringing together professional and social resources to focus on protecting the rights and interests of preschool children in the digital era.

Su Jing, director of Beijing Academy of Educational Sciences' early education research institute, said surveys show that it is common for parents to use electronic devices to keep children occupied.

"In many scenarios, we see young children swiping screens, rapidly switching content, or playing games on tablets and phones," she said.

Addressing growing concerns over so-called digital babysitting — the practice of using digital devices, including artificial intelligence applications, to manage young children's behavior — Su said: "Children aged 3 to 6 are in a stage of concrete thinking and embodied cognition. Their learning relies on physical perception, hands-on activities and real-life social interaction — things that AI products cannot replace."

She also warned of the potential harm of excessive screen time to children's developing vision. Early exposure to blue light and electronic screens is a major contributor to myopia, she said.

"Beyond vision, it can also lead to attention disorders, physical health issues caused by a sedentary lifestyle and other health risks," she added.

Su warned that many parents still turn to digital devices as a quick fix to calm a fussy child, creating a vicious cycle.

"Children learn best through real-life play and hands-on experiences. When that happens, their eyes light up, they are fully engaged and they develop very well," she said.

To safeguard children's healthy development, Su recommended a cautious approach to the use of AI in early childhood settings.

Young children should not use AI products, she said, adding that their learning must be grounded in rich sensory experiences and real-world interactions. Relevant authorities should strictly control the introduction of AI into kindergartens, and AI should not replace the role of teachers.

"A teacher's warmth, care, eye contact and sensitivity to a child's emotions cannot be replaced by algorithms," she said.

Shi Xu, the father of a kindergarten student in Changsha, Hunan province, said he and his wife have established strict rules limiting their daughter's exposure to digital devices.

Although digital devices have become ubiquitous, he said she can learn to use them when she gets older.

"We try to take her out more and let her play with other children. Too much screen time is not good even for adults, let alone little children," he said.