Let Them Roam: What Norway Can Teach Us About Raising Kids in a Screen-Filled World

In Norway, it’s normal to see children as young as six walking to school on their own, organizing their own playdates, or spending hours outside—unsupervised. Parents trust their kids to explore, take risks, and learn through experience. This independence isn’t seen as dangerous; it’s considered essential for growth.

Contrast that with many other countries, where kids are more likely to be inside, surrounded by screens. Phones, tablets, and televisions fill quiet moments that used to belong to play, conversation, and imagination.

Recent research from Estonia suggests this shift comes at a cost. In a study of more than 400 families, scientists found that higher screen use was linked to weaker vocabulary and grammar skills in children aged 2.5 to 4 years old. No type of screen activity—TV, gaming, or videos—showed a positive effect. Gaming time, in particular, had the strongest negative impact.

Researchers noted another pattern: children’s screen habits often mirror their parents’. Families that spent more time online had children who did the same. And because time is finite, every hour spent with a device is an hour not spent talking, playing, or solving problems together—the moments where real language and social skills grow.

Norwegian parents seem to understand this instinctively. Their approach values trust and self-reliance over constant supervision or digital distraction. Kids are expected to help at home, play outdoors in any weather, and learn from mistakes. They climb trees, get muddy, and—sometimes—fall. That freedom builds not just confidence, but communication.

It’s a reminder that screens may offer stimulation, but they rarely replace connection. Independence, conversation, and shared experiences remain the real foundations of learning and language.

What Do You Think?

Does screen time crowd out real conversation in your home? How might giving your child more freedom—and fewer digital distractions—help them grow more confident, curious, and communicative?