Screens Aren’t the Enemy — But They’re Not Building the Skills Kids Need
We use screens in our house.
They’re practical. They’re entertaining. They’re part of modern life.
The problem isn’t that screens exist.
The problem is what they replace.
What Screens Don’t require
Most digital content is:
Fast
Effortless
Rewarding
Designed to hold attention
There’s no need to:
Plan ahead
Hold steps in memory
Tolerate frustration
Adapt when something goes wrong
Finish something complex
Those are executive functioning skills.
And they don’t grow passively.
The Real Gap Isn’t Attention. It’s Executive Function.
When parents say:
“They can focus on a screen for hours, but not on homework.”
That’s not hypocrisy.
Screens are high stimulation and low resisance.
Homework - or any real world project - is low stimulation and high resistance.
Executive function grows through resistance.
Not through consumption.
What Kids Actually Need
Children build cognitive strength when they:
Think before starting
Follow steps in order
Make mistakes
Adjust
Finish what they begin
That full cycle - beginning to end - is what strengthens planning, working memory, flexibility, and follow-through.
Screens rarely demand that.
Hands-on projects do.
Why Baking Works
Baking is structured effort.
You have to:
Read the recipe
Gather tools
Measure precisely
Follow sequence
Wait
Adust
Complete the process
You can’t skip steps.
You can’t rush the oven.
You can’t fast-forward the cooling time.
That friction is productive. It builds mental stamina
It’s Not About Eliminating Screens
It’s about balancing input with output.
Screens our input.
Baking is output.
When children regularly engage in structured, hands-on projects, parents often notice:
More independence
Fewer metldowns
Better task initiation
Greater follow-through
Not because screens disappeared.
Because executive function strengthened.
The Goal Isn’t Less Technology.
The goal is stronger brains.
If we want kids who can plan, adapt, persist, and complete - we need experiences that demand those skills.
Baking is one of the simplest ways to provide that.
It looks like time in the kitchen.
It’s actually executive function practice in disguise.