Play in a Digital Age: How Technology Can Support (and sometimes challenge) Children's Development.

If you’ve ever tried to end a game, pause a video, or say “that’s enough screen time” and been met with big feelings, you’re not alone. Digital games are designed to be engaging — fast, colourful, predictable, rewarding — and for many children (and adults too), they feel excited, comforted, and deeply motivated.

In a world that can feel noisy, demanding, and unpredictable, it makes sense that kids are drawn to spaces where they feel competent, in control, and successful. Understanding why children love digital play can help parents, caregivers, educators and therapists to nourish their nervous systems, rather than overwhelm them.

Play has always been essential to children’s growth — helping them explore their world, develop relationships, develop skills, expand their comfort zones, and learning to regulate emotions. In today’s digital era, technology offers powerful new tools for play-based learning but also demands careful boundaries to ensure that play remains enriching rather than consuming.

Play can be a boundary breaker for a child. From  an occupational therapy perspective, play supports sensory regulation, motivation (to try new things or be with new people), social interaction (develop friendships, experiment with roles, negotiate, share a common interest, care for others), creativity (physical or verbal expression), and meaningful skill acquisition. Technology isn’t inherently at odds with these goals — but how and when it’s used matters. Thoughtful tech-based play can support development; unmanaged, highly stimulating screen time can contribute to dysregulation and compulsive patterns similar to behaviours seen in addictive systems (e.g., constant reward loops) unless balanced with other activities.

Digital play isn’t inherently harmful — many apps provide structured, developmentally supportive experiences. But not all screen time is created equal. A recent appraisal of hundreds of early literacy apps found that only a fraction aligned with expert standards for evidence-based reading instruction, with common shortcomings like lack of explicit instruction and corrective feedback. 

Too much passive or fast-paced screen play — with quick rewards and little cognitive challenge — can push a child’s nervous system into dysregulation, competing with their ability to engage in real-world play and social interaction.

What can we do as parents, caregivers, teachers and therapists?

• Set clear limits and routines around screen time. 

This can be easier said than done. Have a plan and share that with your child. Have a plan for managing the push-back and invite problem solving with your child. 

• Choose apps that invite participation, creation, and problem-solving rather than passive consumption.

I limit the number of apps I use during OT sessions and do not make it a routine item to bring.  Some of my favourite apps include SnapType, Osmo Monster, Osmo Tangram, Dexteria Jr, Sesame Street Breathe, Peppy Pals.  There are other apps I use which are unfortunately no longer available. 

• Blend digital play with physical, sensory-rich activities that support the whole child — body and brain.

​Try Wakeout Kids, Cosmic Kids Yoga, Motor Skills and Go Noodle Videos.

• Being present when possible — co-playing helps children transfer skills and stay regulated.
• Keep screens and children in a shared open space.
• Encourage good sitting posture
• Encourage good vision practices.

Optometrist recommend:

1. Apply the 20-20-20 rule – every 20 minutes look at something 20 feet (60cm) away for 20 seconds. That will give your eye muscles a rest.
2. Try to blink regularly. Focusing on a screen may make you blink less, which may make your eyes dry and uncomfortable.
3. Position your computer screen so that:

                 * it is between 40 and 76 centimetres (16 to 30 inches) from your eyes
                 * the top is level with, or slightly below, your eyes
                 * it is tilted away from you at a 10- to 20-degree angle
                 * there are no distracting reflections, e.g. from a window.

• Encourage fine motor skills!

Occupational therapists have been seeing what we antedoctally call the "gamer's grasp".  There are also hand grasp presentations that have developed and become reinforced with digital technology use. These patterns include more thumb extension in a lateral position, weak interdigital thumb muscles, poor hand strength, difficulty with individual finger movements (needed for typing) and a closed webspace from holding a table or phone.  Children are pointing with either their thumb, index or third fingers while holding all fingers in extension.  

Encourage your child to keep devices on stands or propped up.  When pointing, use the index finger and tuck the remaining fingers into the palm of the hand.  Participate in non-digital fine motor skill activities! Consider the opportunity cost of time spent with a screen and what they are missing out on. 

• Support your child to transition in and out of screen-based play.
  • Using timers (ie. countdown digital timer, visual timers, auditory times, sand timers)
  • Presenting another preferred activity (non-digital)
  • Providing warning and validating how it may be hard to stop.
  • Presenting a regulatory sensory activity such as movement (eg. trampoline), deep pressure (eg. cuddle, weighted item) or oral motor input (eg. crunchy snack, water).

Would you like to learn more about "navigating screens in therapy"?  This topic is being covered in the upcoming Play Conference. This free, online conference is designed for OTPs, PTs, and SLPs who want to make play truly effective for modern childhood – and gain practical strategies that actually stick across homes, schools, and clinics.

 Free conference runs March 9–12, 2026
 Sign up today for your free ticket 
​
And if you want the most out of the experience, the VIP Ticket is available at a discounted rate before and during the free showing. The VIP ticket is in $US and I earn a small commission for this promotion if you purchase a ticket. 

FREE TICKET 2026 Play Conference

What is your biggest challenge with supporting play in a digital age? What helps you to navigate this with your child? 

Until next time,
Cindy

Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia.  She has two growing children who are a constant source of inspiration and learning.  Cindy loves working creatively to help children to reach their potential, finding opportunities in everyday living and making learning fun. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete).  Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT.  Read more articles from Your Kids OT at https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog

Cindy is a contributing author of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team.  They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK.

​The information on this site is general in nature. The activities are safe for most children, however, you should consult an Occupational Therapist or health professional to address specific movement, sensory or other medical conditions. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. ​​​
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