More likely than not, Rachel Accurso—better known as Ms. Rachel—is the first person young children see when their parents turn on the TV or—*gasp*—hands them an iPad.
But Ms. Rachel is not just the modern-day Mister Rogers—she’s the face of a global media empire, a mother of two, and holds masters degrees in early childhood education and music education. So when the 2025 Glamour Women of the Year honoree says parents “don’t need to feel as guilty as we do” about screen time, the moms and dads reading this will probably breathe a sigh of relief.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting children between 18 and 24-months to educational programming viewed with a caregiver, while children between two and five should only view “non-educational” programming for about one to three hours a day. They also recommend parents “turn off all screens during family meals and outings” and “avoid using screens as pacifiers, babysitters, or to stop tantrums.”
Many parents know all this. The problem is that these guidelines are not always possible to abide by, which can lead to feelings of guilt and shame. In her Glamour Women of the Year profile, Ms. Rachel says it’s all about finding “balance.”
“I think what’s really important in life—and for kids—is balance. You’re doing dishes, you’re doing laundry, maybe you’re exhausted. Or maybe they’re really cranky and it helps to put something on sometimes,” she says. “During sick days, technology is fine; just lay around and watch shows. And on planes. But I think it is important to have balance.”
