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When turning the screen off is hard

A short cartoon about a sand timer and what comes next, starring your child. Watch it together on a calm day, then talk.

Try a story beginning

An example story beginning for this moment. It is not a cartoon of your own story.

Cartoons are made with AI. You preview each one before your child sees it. Automatic checks can miss things.

Illustration, made with AI: a boy sits on a rug with a stack of wooden blocks and a sand timer that has run out, his mum beside him and a dark tablet on the sofa behind, while a glowing firefly holds up one more block.
Illustration, made with AI

Let's imagine

Example, made with AI

Leo (5) is about to watch a cartoon with Mum. "When the sand runs out, we turn it off," says Mum. Leo turns a small sand timer himself. When the sand runs out, the screen goes dark. "I want more," says Leo. Mum sits beside him. "Turning it off is hard." She points to the blocks on the rug. "Shall we build the bridge from the story?" Leo puts down two blocks. Then he fetches a third.

The characters in this example are made up. Your child can be the hero, with or without a photo.

What happens in the story

In the example above:

  • Mum gives a warning first: when the sand runs out, the screen goes off. Leo turns the sand timer himself.
  • When the sand runs out, the screen goes dark, and Leo says he wants more.
  • Mum says it is hard and doesn't argue. She points to something Leo loves to do.
  • Leo chooses to build. The screen stays dark, and nobody uses it to cheer him up.
Try a story beginning

Talk-after card

Here are three gentle questions to talk about after this example. Best watched together, then followed by a chat or a game.

  1. What did Mum say before the cartoon started? What did Leo turn?
  2. What did Mum say when the screen went dark? What did they build?
  3. When a cartoon is over, what would you like to do next? You choose.

Use the ones that feel right. Skip any you like.

What a cartoon can and can't do

  • A cartoon can't turn the screen off for you. This story shows one family's warning, timer and next thing to do. Every family has its own.
  • Best watched together, then followed by a chat or a game.
  • Each Zubby cartoon is made to be talked about together. It can't do the work of routine, patience or your child's doctor.
  • If you are worried about your child's sleep, eating, fears or behaviour, talk to your child's doctor, nurse or teacher.