Parents are sharply divided over a storyline in "Toy Story 5" that centers on screen time and device use. The movie apparently depicts technology as problematic, but many families with autistic children see something different in the narrative.
Conner James Black, associate director of the Autism Center at the Child Mind Institute, offers practical guidance for families navigating device use. He recommends keeping communication tools separate from entertainment devices. This two-device approach prevents children from associating their AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) device—which many autistic children rely on to speak—with passive entertainment.
The distinction matters. When a communication device doubles as a tablet for games and videos, children may resist using it for its primary purpose. They learn to expect entertainment rather than functional interaction. Separating these uses helps children understand each device's role and builds healthier engagement patterns.
Parents raising children with autism or speech delays often rely on AAC devices as lifelines. For these families, the movie's apparent villain status assigned to screen time feels dismissive of tools that enable their children's voices. They worry the film might reinforce stigma around necessary technology.
Other families see the movie's message about limiting screen time as important and overdue. They appreciate the conversation starter about balanced device use.
Black's recommendation reflects what research shows about childhood development and technology. The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes intentional device use rather than blanket bans. For children with disabilities, technology isn't a luxury or distraction. It's communication, learning, and connection.
The takeaway for families: Context matters. A tablet is a different tool depending on whether your child uses it to express thoughts they cannot otherwise share or to scroll mindlessly before bed. Rather than accepting or rejecting the movie's message wholesale, parents benefit from examining their own family's specific technology use and making deliberate choices about which devices serve which purposes in