Woody, Buzz, and the gang have always had something to say about what it means to be a kid. Now, in Toy Story 5, the beloved franchise is taking on one of the biggest parenting challenges of our time: what happens when a tablet enters the toy box? You’ll have to watch the movie to find out; however, in the meantime, below are three Screen Sanity tech tips inspired by the film
In an era of streaming everything, there’s something special about the movie theater — and that’s not just nostalgia talking. When you watch a film on a massive screen surrounded by other people, something real happens: you laugh together, gasp together, and feel connected to the people around you. That shared emotional experience is genuinely good for your well-being.
There’s also a practical benefit for kids: the physical distance between them and a large screen helps with attention. Unlike a tablet or phone, they can’t swipe away the moment they get bored.
And when the credits roll, Toy Story 5 gives families plenty to talk about. Consider asking your kids:
Don’t forget to answer these questions as well. When adults share their real-life struggles, it demonstrates empathy and helps kids understand we are all in this together.
One of the movie’s memorable lines comes from a toy describing Lilypad, the tablet: “Lilypad isn’t a frog — she’s a leech.” It’s calling out that all-in-one devices like tablets and smartphones are designed to suck our time and attention.
Knowing that, one of the most effective things parents can do is carve out spaces where screens simply don’t go. We call this device-free zones:
The goal isn’t to eliminate technology — it’s to protect the spaces where boredom, creativity, conversation, and rest can still happen naturally.
Woody puts it bluntly in the film: “Toys are for play. Tech is for… everything.” That “everything” is exactly the challenge.
When a single device can be a camera, a phone, a music player, a gaming system, and a portal to the entire internet, it’s hard for kids (or adults) to use it with intention. One helpful approach: unbundle the technology.
Instead of handing a child a tablet to take photos, get them a simple point-and-shoot camera. Instead of streaming music from a device, try a record player or a Yoto Player. Instead of using a tablet as an alarm, use an alarm clock. Instead of texting, let them use a landline.
When each tool does one thing, kids learn to use technology purposefully rather than habitually. And it preserves real space in their days for toys, make-believe, and the kind of unstructured play that Toy Story has always celebrated.
Unbundling Resources:
Cameras:
Communication:
Music:
Unbundling does create more for kids to manage (e.g., keeping track and taking care of their tools); however, that’s a good thing. It gives them an opportunity to demonstrate responsibility, which is essential before they progress to more sophisticated devices with additional risks.
