Screens in childhood: neither fear nor excess. Judgement.
The right question is not "screens: yes or no?" but what for, for how long, and with what alternative.
What the evidence says
Research on screens and childhood consistently points in the same direction: the problem is not the device but displacement — when the screen replaces physical play, conversation, reading on paper or sleep. Reference bodies (WHO, the American Academy of Pediatrics, UNESCO) recommend age-based time limits, adult guidance and content with a real educational purpose.
At the same time, the evidence also shows that well-designed digital tools provide what paper cannot: precise, objective assessment, real-time adaptation to each child's level, and motivation that particularly helps the children who struggle most.
Our position
- The screen is a tool, not a goal. We use it where it is irreplaceable: assessing, adapting, motivating.
- A structured dose: short sessions — 15 minutes a day — with a clear start and end. No infinite scroll, no rewards for time online.
- Gamification motivates learning, not permanence. We design play so children want to learn, not so they cannot stop.
- Paper remains essential. NeurekaLab generates personalised worksheets for each child and marks them from a photo. Tracking does not stop when the screen goes off.
- Adults always at the centre: clear reports so teachers and families decide with judgement — not opaque algorithms.
The hybrid model in practice
We assess digitally because measuring reading, calculation, attention and working memory requires a temporal precision paper cannot offer. We train digitally when immediate adaptation adds value, and on paper when it is time to consolidate: writing, calculation, distraction-free work. Same profile, same rigour, two formats.
Are there educational apps that work without screens?
It sounds like a contradiction, but at school it is possible. With NeurekaLab, pupils can work on personalised paper worksheets only: the teacher photographs them, they are marked automatically and tracking continues just as in the app. The screen is a resource you can choose, not a requirement.
Neither technophobia nor technophilia: technology with purpose, paper with personalisation, and always the right amount of each.