TL;DR: Stop fighting the "screen time" clock and start looking at the output. We’re moving from passive scrolling to active creation. If your kid is going to be on a device, let’s get them building, coding, and composing. Top picks for a creative digital diet: Scratch for coding, Stop Motion Studio for filmmaking, BandLab for music, and Minecraft (Creative Mode) for digital architecture.
We’ve all seen it: the "zombie stare." That glazed-over look kids get when they’ve been scrolling through 45 minutes of "Ohio" memes or watching someone else play a game they could be playing themselves. It’s easy to feel like screens are just a giant vacuum for our kids' brains, but the truth is more nuanced.
The problem isn't necessarily the screen; it's the passive consumption. There is a massive difference between a kid watching 100 YouTube Shorts and a kid spending two hours learning how to animate a character in Procreate. One is a digital sedative; the other is a digital tool.
If we want to raise "Screenwise" kids, we have to teach them that devices are for making, not just taking.
When kids create digitally, they aren't just "playing." They are learning logic, spatial awareness, storytelling, and technical literacy. This is the stuff that actually translates to real-world skills.
Think of it like this: Passive screen time is like eating a bag of chips—fine in moderation, but it doesn't build anything. Active screen time is like a kitchen—it’s where you take raw ingredients and turn them into something new.
Learn more about the difference between active and passive screen time
Let’s be real: Minecraft is basically infinite Legos without the risk of stepping on a brick at 2 AM. In Creative Mode, the focus shifts from survival to architecture and engineering. If your kid starts getting into "Redstone," pay attention—that’s essentially basic electrical engineering and logic gates. They are building computers inside a game.
- Ages: 6+
- Parent Tip: Ask them to give you a "tour" of their world. It forces them to articulate their design choices.
Developed by the folks at MIT, Scratch is the gold standard for introductory coding. It uses block-based logic, so kids don't have to worry about typos in their code; they just snap ideas together. They can make games, animations, and interactive stories.
- Ages: 8-16 (Try ScratchJr for ages 5-7)
- Why it's great: It’s a closed community that is heavily moderated, making it one of the safer corners of the internet.
We have a love-hate relationship with Roblox. On one hand, the main app can be a cesspool of "brain rot" and "Skibidi" nonsense. On the other hand, Roblox Studio is a legitimate game development engine. Kids use Lua (a real programming language) to build games that others can actually play. Is it teaching entrepreneurship? Yes. Is it also trying to drain your bank account via Robux? Also yes.
- Ages: 10+ (due to complexity)
- No-BS Review: If your kid is just playing "Adopt Me" for five hours, that’s consumption. If they are in the Studio trying to figure out why their "obby" (obstacle course) isn't working, that’s creation.
If you have an iPad and a kid who likes to draw, Procreate is worth every penny of its one-time purchase price. It’s professional-grade software that is surprisingly intuitive for kids. They can learn about layers, brushes, and digital masking—skills that professional illustrators use every day.
- Ages: 9+
- Pro Tip: Pair this with a cheap stylus if you aren't ready to drop $100 on an Apple Pencil.
This is the ultimate "bridge" app. It requires a screen to capture the frames, but the actual "work" happens in the physical world with Legos, clay, or action figures. It teaches patience, frame rates, and narrative structure.
- Ages: 6+
- Parent Tip: Buy a cheap phone tripod. It will save them (and you) a lot of frustration from shaky cameras.
Canva isn't just for your side hustle's Instagram posts. It’s a fantastic way for kids to design school presentations, birthday cards, or even their own "magazines." It introduces them to typography, layout, and branding.
- Ages: 10+
Think of BandLab as a social music studio. It’s easier to use than GarageBand for many kids and works across all devices (Chromebooks, phones, etc.). They can loop beats, record vocals, and "remix" tracks.
- Ages: 12+ (due to the social nature of the platform)
- Safety Note: Like any social platform, there is a comment section. Keep an eye on it.
If you are an Apple family, GarageBand is already sitting on your device. It is a powerhouse for making music. Kids can play "smart instruments" where they don't even need to know chords to make something that sounds decent.
- Ages: 8+
Ages 5-7: The Explorers
At this age, digital creation should be tactile and simple. Apps like Toca Boca World allow for digital storytelling and "house" play. Focus on apps that don't have "win/lose" states but rather offer a sandbox to play in.
Ages 8-12: The Builders
This is the sweet spot for Minecraft, Scratch, and Stop Motion Studio. They have the fine motor skills and the logical capacity to start "finishing" projects. This is also when the lure of "passive" YouTube is strongest, so you’ll need to be intentional about suggesting the "creative" apps.
Ages 13+: The Specialists
Teenagers can start moving into professional tools. If they’ve mastered Scratch, maybe it’s time for Unity or Python. If they love Procreate, they might be ready for the Adobe Creative Cloud suite.
Even creative apps have their pitfalls. Here’s what to look out for:
- In-App Purchases (IAPs): Many "creative" apps are free to start but lock the best brushes, sounds, or blocks behind a paywall. Set a "spending limit" or stick to one-time purchase apps.
- Community Sharing: Apps like Scratch and Roblox allow kids to share their creations. This is great for feedback but means they are interacting with strangers. Check the privacy settings to ensure they aren't sharing personal info.
- The Time Warp: Creative flow is a real thing. It’s great when your kid is "in the zone," but they still need to eat, sleep, and see the sun. Even "good" screen time needs boundaries.
Check out our guide on setting up effective screen time boundaries
Instead of saying "Put that iPad away," try shifting the focus to the work.
By validating their digital output, you’re showing them that you value their creativity, not just monitoring their clock. You’re also subtly reminding them that the device is a tool for their use, rather than a master of their attention.
We aren't going to win the war against screens by simply banning them. The world is digital, and our kids need to know how to navigate it. The goal is to move them from being digital tenants (who just live in someone else's app) to digital landlords (who build and own their own spaces).
Start small. Pick one "creative" app this week and sit down with them while they try it out. You might be surprised at what they can build when they stop scrolling and start sparking.
- Audit the Home Screen: Look at your child's tablet or phone. What's the ratio of "Watch" apps (Netflix, YouTube, TikTok) to "Make" apps (Scratch, GarageBand, Procreate)? Try to get it to 50/50.
- Set a "Creation Goal": Maybe Saturday mornings are for "making" only—no YouTube allowed until they've spent 30 minutes on a creative project.
- Ask Screenwise: Not sure if a specific app is actually creative or just a disguised ad? Ask our chatbot for a BS-free review.