People fume as mother brags about keeping her 2-year-old screen-free since birth

A mother has sparked debate after revealing she has kept her almost two-year-old daughter screen-free since she was born.

Natalia explained that she has never let her 23-month-old daughter watch television or use a tablet.

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Instead, she has a toy room full of wooden, educational toys to keep her entertained.

Natalia took over TikTok to take a peek into the playroom and show her her favorite toys.

Her daughter prefers to do “anything that needs to be moved,” which she demonstrated by using tongs to transfer dried pasta from one bowl to another.

She also uses flashcards to teach her daughter about professions. She uses costumed figures and places them in the right place for the profession. She also learns about animals and sea creatures.

“She already knows all the human organs and loves to show where they are in her body,” Natalia added about the flashcards she has of different organs.

The girl also has a hole punch and a piece of cardboard with her. She can also count pinboards from one to ten.

Montessori toys are a favorite in their home, including a brown staircase for them to roll a ball down and some oddly shaped bricks to stack on.

There’s a Ferris wheel, which she calls “simple but fun,” and a Melissa & Doug playground tumbler, which she “plays with for ages.”

She concluded her tour of the playroom with a look at a Geoboard: pins on a wooden board that she could use to make shapes with rubber bands.

People in the comments were divided over whether they agreed with Natalia’s parenting style.

“I’m glad I was a kid in the 90s!” someone joked.

“Mine watch TV and I’m sane,” added another.

“While mine has had screen time since he was born,” said a third.

“Mine too! Ms. Rachel really helped her learn and Sesame Street too!” agreed someone else.

“My toddler would be bored in seconds!” said another.

“He doesn’t have any screens, but he does have some fun toys! Man!”

“My girl loves her Elmo and Miss Rachel and even started saying dada when she was 5 months old thanks to Miss Rachel,” someone else insisted.

“As a kid I always had the TV on and nothing bothered me, haha!”

“Do you have a TV in your house? I struggle with screen time,” asked another.

To which Natalia replied, “Yes, we do, but we only watch it at night, when my daughter is asleep.”

“You can’t say it hasn’t affected her in such a short time,” argued someone else.

“Just wait 10 years and then compare them to kids without screen time.”

Different Parenting Styles Explained

Four recognized parenting styles are explained below:

Authoritarian parenting

What some would describe as ‘regimental’ or ‘strict parenting’.

Parents with this style emphasize strict rules, obedience, and discipline.

Authoritarian parents take over decision-making power and rarely allow their children to have a say.

When it comes to rules, you believe that it’s “my way or the highway.”

Permissive parenting

Often referred to as ‘soft parenting’ or ‘yes moms/dads’.

Permissive parents are indulgent and only intervene when there is a serious problem.

They are quite forgiving and have a ‘kids will be kids’ attitude.

They often act more like friends than authority figures.

Authoritarian parenting

Authoritarian parents give their children rules and boundaries, but they also give them the freedom to make their own decisions.

With an authoritarian parenting style, parents acknowledge their children’s feelings, but also make it clear that adults are ultimately in charge.

They use positive reinforcement techniques, such as praise and reward systems, rather than harsh punishment.

Neglectful or uninvolved parenting

Neglectful parents essentially ignore their children, who receive little guidance, care, and parental attention.

They don’t set rules or expectations and generally have little knowledge about what their children are doing.

Uninvolved parents expect children to raise themselves. They do not spend much time or energy on meeting children’s basic needs.

Uninvolved parents can be neglectful, but it is not always intentional. For example, a parent with mental health issues or substance abuse may not consistently care for a child’s physical or emotional needs.

Others agreed with Natalia’s screen-free approach, with one person writing: “What a lovely room this is.

“I love the Melissa and Doug toys for my kids.”

“Montessori tools are the best,” added another.

“That’s impressive,” a third commented.

As someone else said, “I love these ideas. I can’t wait to use them when my daughter is older!”