It’s a Sunday morning in Accra. The choir swells with hallelujahs, the preacher’s voice builds in rhythm, and in the third pew, a toddler sits, legs crossed, eyes fixed on a glowing tablet.
He isn’t following the sermon; he’s engrossed in Cocomelon. Scenes like this are becoming increasingly common. From church pews to playgrounds, trotro rides to wedding receptions, Ghana’s youngest are growing up with screens in their laps, their tiny fingers swiping with ease, eyes wide with digital wonder. The digital babysitter has arrived, and it’s everywhere.
A New Kind of Caregiver
In the living rooms of Kumasi, the backseats of Ubers in Accra, and the aisles of supermarkets in Tema, smartphones and tablets have quietly become the go-to solution for keeping children quiet, calm, and occupied.
For many parents, it isn’t about laziness; it’s about survival. With fewer extended family members around to help and the pressures of modern life piling up, screens offer a quick fix. They don’t cry. They don’t complain. And they never need a nap.
But what do they take in return?
The Hidden Costs of Convenience
While screens can provide moments of learning and laughter, child development experts continue to warn against excessive use, especially in early childhood. Research has linked too much screen time to delayed speech, reduced attention span, and emotional challenges.
Young children learn best through touch, talk, and play, not just swipes and taps. And although some digital platforms market themselves as “educational,” many rely on autoplay, flashy animations, and endless scrolling, features that overstimulate developing brains and dull curiosity.
The real issue isn’t the screen itself, but what it replaces: the human connection.
Screens at Social Events: The New Normal
At a recent funeral in Haatso, a group of children sat nearby, each holding a device. They weren’t crying, playing, or asking questions. Just watching silently as cartoon characters danced across their screens while the real world moved around them.
At wedding receptions, the pattern repeats. While adults dance, toast, and take pictures, children huddle around a phone, disconnected from the laughter and music around them.
Even in church, a space once reserved for quiet reflection, glowing screens now flicker in the hands of restless children. The digital babysitter doesn’t take a day off.
Reclaiming Balance
Experts say the answer isn’t to ban screens completely; that’s neither practical nor necessary. Instead, they encourage balance and intention:
1. Set boundaries: Limit screen time and stick to routines.
2. Choose wisely: Opt for content that encourages creativity and critical thinking.
3. Co-view and engage: Watch with your child. Ask questions. Turn it into a conversation. Encourage real-world play: Legos, books, and backyard adventures still matter.
A Culture in Transition
Ghana’s parenting traditions have always been rooted in community, with aunties, uncles, grandparents, and neighbours all helping to raise a child. But urbanization, migration, and technology have reshaped that village.
Today’s parents are navigating new terrains, balancing love, work, and the unrelenting pace of modern life. Often, there’s no manual, just instinct, exhaustion, and a phone in one hand with a child in the other.
The digital babysitter isn’t the enemy. It’s a tool, one that can provide relief but not replace human connection. The question isn’t if we use it, but how.
Technology can offer a breather, a moment of calm, and a pause in the chaos. But it can never replicate the warmth of a parent’s voice, the joy of shared laughter, or the magic of a story told face-to-face.
Sometimes, the most powerful connection happens when the screen fades to black, and a child looks up, not for entertainment, but for love.
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