Screens with balance: the path to a healthy childhood

             How to use technology consciously to promote health, creativity, and citizenship in children
Imagine a child using a tablet to create stories, learn about the world, and connect with others, all while preserving the spark of childhood. Screens can be allies or traps—it all depends on how we use them. In this article, we explore how parents and educators can guide children toward a healthy use of technology, inspired by science, education, and the thought-provoking fable by Antônio Carlos dos Santos.

Screens are everywhere: smartphones, tablets, computers, and TVs shape children’s daily lives. But how do we balance the benefits of technology with its risks, such as cyberbullying and digital dependency? The book Screens? Only with Health – Computers: Between Freedom and Slavery by Antônio Carlos dos Santos uses a fable about owlets and vipers to warn about the dangers of uncontrolled technology use. The work, part of Santos’s “Pedagogies of Creativity and Autonomy (PCA),” argues that education is the key to turning screens into tools of freedom, not manipulation. Studies from Stanford University show that children exposed to balanced technology use develop better socio-emotional skills, while excessive screen time can harm attention and sleep.

Motivational quote: “Education is a process of awakening curiosity, not extinguishing imagination.” – Maria Montessori

Santos’s fable, with its owlets deceived by vipers through screens, echoes Plato’s Allegory of the Cave: screens can create illusions that distance us from reality. To prevent this, it’s essential to teach children critical technology use. The MAT (Mindset, Action, and Theater) methodology, created by Santos, combines reflection and dramatization to engage young people. In a school in Minas Gerais, teachers used the theatrical play The Day the Vipers – Through Screens – Enslaved the Owlets to discuss cyberbullying. The children performed the story, reflecting on how to identify malicious online messages. Studies from Yale University show that theatrical activities increase empathy, helping children recognize digital manipulations.

Curiosity box: the impact of screens on the child’s brain
Research from the University of Cambridge reveals that excessive screen use before age 12 can reduce connectivity in the prefrontal cortex, the area linked to decision-making. However, moderate use with creative activities, like educational games, stimulates creativity and problem-solving.

The ThM (Theater Movement) methodology by Santos uses bodily movement to teach complex concepts playfully. In a project in Rio de Janeiro, children acted out scenes from Santos’s fable, using gestures to depict the owlets’ struggle against the vipers. This approach helped students understand the importance of screen time limits while developing motor coordination. Neuroscience, in studies from the University of Oxford, confirms that activities integrating movement and narrative strengthen memory and emotional regulation, essential for healthy technology use.

Practical tip: Set a “screen schedule” at home. Reserve parts of the day for educational digital activities, like learning apps, and balance them with offline activities, such as reading or outdoor play. This helps create a healthy equilibrium.

The Mané Beiçudo Puppet Theater (TBMB), another methodology by Santos, is ideal for young children. In a daycare in São Paulo, puppets were used to tell the owlets’ story, teaching about internet safety in a fun way. The children learned to identify suspicious links while being enchanted by the puppets. Studies from Harvard University show that visual narratives, like those with puppets, activate brain areas linked to imagination, facilitating the learning of abstract concepts, such as digital safety. Santos’s fable turns complex lessons into accessible stories, encouraging digital citizenship from an early age.

Inspiring story: Malala Yousafzai and conscious education
Malala, who fought for education in Pakistan, used stories to inspire young people to question the world around them. Like her, we can use narratives, such as Santos’s fable, to teach children the value of using technology consciously, turning screens into tools for learning and connection.

Excessive screen use can lead to cyberbullying, a growing issue. Santos’s fable warns of this, showing how vipers manipulate owlets through screens. In a school in Paraná, teachers used the MAT methodology to create workshops where students discussed real cases of cyberbullying, learning to identify and combat toxic online behaviors. Studies from the University of Chicago indicate that digital education programs reduce virtual bullying cases by up to 20%. Teaching children to navigate social media with ethics and respect is crucial for their mental and social health.

Curiosity box: cyberbullying worldwide
According to UNESCO, 30% of young people have experienced some form of online bullying. Educational programs teaching empathy and digital safety, like those inspired by Santos’s methodologies, have helped reduce these numbers, promoting a safer internet.

Education for healthy screen use also involves parents. Santos’s book emphasizes that families must model positive digital behaviors. In a project in Goiás, parents participated in MBPT-based workshops, learning to monitor their children’s screen use without invading their privacy. They used puppets to simulate conversations about online safety, making the dialogue lighter and more effective. Studies from Stanford University show that children whose parents set clear technology boundaries experience fewer sleep and anxiety issues.

Motivational quote: “Learning is richer when shared with affection and purpose.” – Carl Rogers

Technology can also be an ally in education. Educational games, learning platforms, and interactive videos, when used well, stimulate creativity. In a school in Ceará, teachers integrated Santos’s fable into technology classes, using the ThM methodology to create dances representing the “freedom” and “slavery” of screens. Students learned to distinguish positive and negative technology uses while having fun. Research from the University of Cambridge shows that creative technology activities increase school engagement by up to 15%, provided they are accompanied by proper guidance.

Practical tip: Create a “screen-free night” with your family. Turn off devices and engage in activities like storytelling, board games, or cooking together. This strengthens family bonds and teaches children the value of offline time.

Santos’s fable also addresses the metaverse and fake news, warning about the risks of a digital world disconnected from reality. In a school in Brasília, teachers used Santos’s theatrical play to discuss how to identify fake news, teaching students to check sources before sharing information. Studies from the University of Oxford show that digital literacy, including recognizing fake news, improves critical thinking in young people. Santos’s playful methodologies make these lessons accessible and engaging, preparing children to be responsible digital citizens.

Inspiring story: Nelson Mandela and the power of education
Mandela used stories to unite communities and inspire change. Like him, we can use Santos’s narratives to teach children how to navigate the digital world with wisdom, turning screens into tools for growth, not manipulation.

The final message of Screens? Only with Health is clear: technology can be a force for good when used with balance and purpose. Santos’s “Pedagogies of Creativity and Autonomy,” with their MAT, ThM, and MBPT methodologies, offer pathways for parents and educators to guide children in this digital world. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort, but how he rises in times of controversy.” Let’s teach our children to use screens with health, so they grow free, creative, and conscious.

Practical tip: Use parental control apps to monitor children’s screen time, but pair this with open conversations about what they see online. Ask: “What did you learn on the internet today?” This encourages critical technology use.

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