Nanny Agency Head Defends Screen Time for Distressed Toddlers

Expert argues devices can help children “settle” when overstimulated

The founder of a successful London-based nanny agency has sparked a debate by defending the use of electronic devices for young children experiencing distress. Dr Rachel Carrell, CEO of Koru Kids, shared a personal anecdote on LinkedIn to counter a critical viewpoint, advocating for screens as a tool for “co-regulation.”

Parenting Under Pressure

Dr Carrell recounted a recent experience on a beach in France, where her toddler became overwhelmed by the day’s activities and the heat. Faced with a dysregulated child, she opted to let her watch “Peppa Pig” on her phone while she attended to her older children.

“My toddler, after a full day of sandcastles, swimming, and relentless heat, was dysregulated and overwhelmed. So we gave her my phone to watch Peppa Pig while we played cards with the older two.”

—Dr Rachel Carrell, Founder and CEO of Koru Kids

Neuroscience of Calm

From a neuroscientific perspective, Dr Carrell explained that screens can be a beneficial tool for managing a child’s nervous system when it’s in a “fight-or-flight” state due to overstimulation. During such moments, the prefrontal cortex, responsible for learning and self-regulation, becomes less active.

She elaborated that a familiar and predictable cartoon can act like “white noise” for a child, allowing their brain to calm down. This approach, she argued, enables the parent to provide focused attention to other children while the younger one self-regulates.

“When a young child becomes overstimulated, their nervous system flips into a state of fight-or-flight. At this point, the part of the brain responsible for learning, empathy, and self-regulation – the prefrontal cortex – goes offline.”

—Dr Rachel Carrell, Founder and CEO of Koru Kids

“Instead, we need to co-regulate. This means helping the nervous system come back to balance. To do so, we could have a cuddle, quiet time, or yes, Peppa Pig.”

—Dr Rachel Carrell, Founder and CEO of Koru Kids

Dr Carrell suggested that the family observed by a critic might have been making a pragmatic decision to meet the needs of everyone involved. This perspective challenges the notion that using screens for calming purposes is inherently detrimental.

Supporting Families in Practice

Koru Kids, founded by Dr Carrell in June 2016, has raised over $30 million in investor funding. Her background includes a Doctorate in International Development from the University of Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar, underscoring her academic credentials in her arguments.

Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that while excessive screen time can have negative impacts, brief, focused use during moments of high stress can be part of a balanced approach to child-rearing. For instance, a 2022 study in *Child Development* found that short periods of screen use can help young children transition between activities more smoothly (Source: Child Development, 2022).