Less Screen Time, More Play Time: Rethinking Childhood, Play and Connection
On Wednesday 4 November 2026, Better Start – Better Futures attended the Less Screen Time, More Play Time conference, hosted by 50 Things to Do, in London.
Sofia Dauraiz, Strategic Parent and Community Involvement Lead, was joined by Nadia, one of the parent chairs of the Conception to Reception Evidence (CoRE) Partnership.
The conference brought together a range of speakers, practitioners, professionals and people with lived experience to explore the growing conversations around children’s screen use, play, learning and development.
Throughout the day, there were insightful discussions about the importance of creating opportunities for children to experience the world beyond screens – through play, exploration, relationships, creativity and meaningful connections with the people around them.
One of the strongest messages to emerge was that this is not an issue with a simple answer. It is not about blame, judgement or placing responsibility solely on parents and carers. Instead, we need to look at the evidence, listen to the experiences of practitioners and professionals, and, importantly, recognise the voices of parents and carers.
By bringing these perspectives together, we can challenge how we think about screen use, understand the wider influences on family life and explore how we create environments where children have opportunities to play, connect, discover and thrive.
A parent’s perspective – Nadia’s reflections:
Nadia particularly enjoyed hearing from the different speakers and reflecting on the messages shared throughout the day.
She said:
“I really enjoyed the event and hearing from the different speakers. Guddi Singh’s Beyond Screen Time talk particularly stayed with me. It encouraged me to look beyond the amount of time children spend on screens and think more about the content and childhood experiences we create for them, including opportunities to play, connect and explore.
As a parent of four, this really influenced how I think about supporting my children’s wellbeing and development.
I also found Sam Wass’s contribution fascinating and thought-provoking. Thank you for such an inspiring event that has given me so much to reflect on as a parent.”
Why parent voice matters:
Having Nadia alongside me was a valuable reminder of why parent and carer involvement needs to be at the heart of conversations about early childhood.
Parents bring lived experiences, perspectives and insights that can sometimes be missing from professional discussions. Their voices help us understand the realities of family life and ensure that the decisions, approaches and support being developed reflect what really matters to families.
Through the CoRE Partnership, Better Start – Better Futures is committed to bringing parents, carers and professionals together to explore what matters most to families from pre-conception through to the age of five.
The conference provided an opportunity to listen, learn and reflect, but also to consider what we can take forward into our own work across Bradford.
Perhaps the question isn’t simply how we reduce children’s screen time, but how we create more opportunities for children to experience everything childhood has to offer.
A New Chapter for Early Years Support: Introducing Better Start Better Futures
After ten remarkable years, the Better Start Bradford programme has come to a natural close. Since 2015, it delivered over 20 projects for families with children aged 0 to 4 in Bowling and Barkerend, Bradford Moor and Little Horton, supporting more than 40,000 parents, carers and children.
That decade of learning and impact is now being carried forward under a new name and a bigger ambition: Better Start Better Futures. Rather than being limited to three wards, the new programme will help shape early years services across the whole of Bradford.
At the heart of this new chapter is the CoRE Partnership, short for From Conception through Reception Evidence. It’s a group of local parents, carers and grandparents using their own experiences to influence how early years services for children aged 0 to 5 are designed and delivered across the district, from pregnancy right through to starting school.
Calling all parents, carers and grandparents: Better Start Better Futures wants to hear from anyone passionate about giving children the best start in life. Your voice and experience could help shape services for years to come.
Meeting dates: 17th September at Shipley Library and 5th November, venue TBC. Time and travel expenses are reimbursed.
A special invitation to dads and male carers: Dads and male carers are especially encouraged to get involved, helping build a stronger, more inclusive Bradford for children and families.
Get involved: No special experience is needed, just a passion for your community. To find out more or express your interest, contact Sofia via email sofia@thevcsalliance.org.uk or call 07727 378984.
More on the Better Start Bradford legacy and Better Start Better Futures: Better Start Bradford Ten years of learning helped thousands of Bradford families. Now it’s time to build on that foundation, and we want you to help shape what comes next.
NEWS Item 2
Summer Action Programme: ParkLife Climate Action
ParkLife Climate Action supports young people to design local climate solutions by reimagining parks and green spaces and advocating for measures that increase climate resilience.When:
Monday 10th August
Introductory online workshop exploring what climate change looks like globally, nationally, in Bradford, and your local community.
Thursday 13th August
A workshop introducing local nature-based climate solutions. You’ll develop your own ideas to improve parks and green spaces in Bradford.
Saturday 15th August In-person day of action!
We’ll spend the day in a local park. You’ll create a nature-based solution to tackle climate change and get the chance to pitch your ideas.
All travel costs are covered for the in-person action day.
To register your interest, please email rebecca@ihaveavoice.org.uk.
