As Children’s Day, celebrated every May 27, draws near, Vanessa Obioha explores how growing up with screens differs from a more analogue childhood. She speaks to mothers and children navigating the complexities of digital-age parenting. 

ach day after school, nine-year-old Chavah Daniel follows a predictable routine. First, she completes her homework, then takes her mother’s phone, not to take selfies or call a friend, but to play games.

“I play outside with my friends sometimes,” she said, “but I also have tutoring twice a week for my Common Entrance Examination.”

Ten-year-old Crystabel Williams follows a similar path. However, in her case, as the eldest of her two siblings, her responsibilities come first. “I do my house chores, then my homework after which I prepare for the next day at school before I can now play.”

For Crystabel, that play includes hide and seek or taking her mother’s phone to play Block Breaker. These moments of digital play stand in sharp contrast to the childhoods of their parents, many of whom spent after-school hours outdoors.

Before screens took over, the average Nigerian child interacted with just one: the television, and only from 4 p.m., when stations began broadcasting. Today, screens are ubiquitous. Generation Alpha is immersed in a constant stream of blue light at school, at home, and even during play.

When Play Meant Outdoors

Before the copious use of mobile phones, tablets and apps, childhood was defined by imagination, outdoor games, and storytelling. These memories are now lovingly resurrected on TikTok reels and Instagram posts. The days of running barefoot and free, chasing tyres, clapping hands to Tinko Tinko, or reenacting tales of the tortoise from folklore are long gone.

Childcare nutritionist and project manager Glory Daniel recalled these days with fondness.

“As a child of the 1980s, I have fond memories of a much simpler time before modern technology took over our lives,” she began. “Back then, playing outside with friends: skipping rope, suwe, flying kites, riding wheels and tyres, ludo, otori (hide and seek), Tales by Moonlight, ten-ten, who is in the garden, wording (jokes), riding bikes around the neighbourhood, and letting our imaginations run wild was the norm. Playing outside was pretty much our only option! After school and on weekends, all the kids in my suburban neighbourhood would gather and figure out ways to entertain ourselves.”

Hameedat, a UK-based Nigerian mother described these games as being more than just fun. “I grew up playing games like ten-ten, suwe, boju boju. These weren’t just games; they taught us rhythm, strategy, teamwork and joy in simplicity,” she said.

“We played outside until it got dark, invented our own games, and had a deep connection with our environment, community, and traditions. There was little to no digital exposure. no smartphones, no YouTube, no social media.”

Today, the contrast is stark. A 2021 Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) study showed children now spend between three and ten hours daily on screens, whether watching TV, gaming, or surfing the internet.

Too Much Screen Time, Too Little Real Play

With children spending more recreational time indoors than outdoors, glued to their digital devices, many parents are concerned. Not just by the potential developmental risks, but also by safety concerns that keep children indoors. “During our time, we had playmates, and our parents do not worry about anyone harming their children,” said serial entrepreneur Lina Williams. “But these days, the fear is constant. Many of us lock our kids inside.”

Glory concurred: “We didn’t need screens or WiFi to have fun. We had less screen time. We spent less time watching television as this was the only screen we knew. The TV stations would typically resume at 4 pm and shut down at 10 pm. Many children’s programmes were mostly aired in the early evenings before adults came in to watch the news and other programmes which we could not relate to. Now, the screens are everywhere. The TV stations run for 24 hours and there are more TV stations now than what a kid in the 80s or 90s knew about.”

She also decried the fading of oral traditions.

“We were told folktales about the Tortoise,  featured in almost all the African folktales we were told by our parents, grandparents, and teachers. We grew up believing different things about the tortoise, about how it got its rough shell and how it was a mischievous animal. No one talks about the tortoise anymore and kids nowadays do not believe any of the tales we believed in the 80s and the 90s. I’m so grateful I got to be a kid during that era before increased digital immersion drastically changed childhood.”

Hameedat is equally worried about overexposure.

“The screen time can easily get excessive and there’s a lot out there that isn’t age appropriate. The influence of social media and digital trends is strong even toddlers are picking up slang and attitudes from online platforms.”

Both Lina and Glory admitted to monitoring their children’s digital habits.

 “I try as much to reduce her screen time by opting for educational and age-appropriate content that encourages learning and engagement,” said Glory.

“I control what she watches online. And she is not allowed to pick up my phone or her tablet without my consent,” added Lina.

What We Gain and What We Lose

While many parents mourn the lost innocence of unplugged play, they also recognise the digital age’s upsides.

“My child is growing up in a digital age where screens are everywhere from educational apps to entertainment. They’re learning faster, becoming more tech-savvy, and are often more aware of the world than we ever were at their age, even learning emotional intelligence through certain platforms,” said Hameedat.

“Digital devices offer children valuable opportunities for learning, creativity, and social connection and a strong cognitive ability;  children today are much more connected, with immediate access to an unlimited amount of information,” added Glory.

But all of these come at a cost.

“Children’s attention span has diminished over the years, largely due to constant stimulation by screens,” said Glory. “There are lots of harmful content and behaviours online. It also reduces face-to-face interactions.

“They’re also losing some of the slower joys of childhood unstructured play, patience, physical activities, and real-world interactions. There’s a risk of becoming too overstimulated or disconnected from their immediate environment,” said Hameedat.

Passing Down Play

To preserve childhood traditions, some parents are intentionally sharing their own games with their kids.

“My daughter and I play the Tinko Tinko game,” said Glory. The game involves two partners or a group of people facing each other, clapping and interchanging palms and slamming the hands of their partner in a rhythmic pattern while singing the theme song: Tinko! Tinko!! Tinkoko Tinko.

Wasiu Adegbola, a civil servant and father of six also plans to teach his children some of the childhood games he grew up with.

“There are local games I am trying to pass on to them like suwe, paper canoe, and building sand houses.”

But for Hameedat whose children are growing up abroad, the fear of cultural loss looms larger. “It’s not just about the games; it’s about the memories, the culture, and the way those games built community. They taught us social skills in ways that screens can’t. I worry that if we’re not intentional, those experiences may disappear. That’s why I make conscious efforts to introduce those games at home and even teach them the songs and stories we grew up with. If we don’t pass them on, they’ll fade.”

Children See More Than Just Fun

Parents may worry about the digital recreation permeating classrooms and homes, but for children like Chavah and Crystabel, digital play is more than a distraction; it’s also a learning tool. Chavah enjoys puzzle and logic games, as well as suwe and Tinko, which her mother taught her. Crystabel watches animations like King Julien on Netflix and YouTube.

“I learn good morals and skills, like interior design, from cartoons,” she said. “I want to make my parents proud.” Both Chavah and Crystabel expressed a desire to create their own games.

“I would create a treasure hunt around the yard game,” said Chavah.

Crystabel, on the other hand, leaned toward a more purposeful design.

“I would create a game that is educational for children and helps adults save wisely.”

Chavah urges adults to try to understand their world.

“Grown-ups must put themselves in our shoes and investigate the complexities of the world we live in today. It is a journey that demands patience, sensitivity, and adaptability.”

Finding the Balance

As screens become a permanent fixture in children’s lives, many parents believe the solution lies in balance. “Digital tools can be incredibly educational when used properly,” said Hameedat. “It’s about balance and ensuring the content they’re exposed to helps build them, not break them.” Childhood may never return to what it once was. But with intention, guidance, and a little nostalgia, today’s children can still experience the magic of play, both online and offline