Special Needs Parents React to Toy Story 5 | Episode 43

Toy Story 5 takes on kids' screen time, technology, and imaginative play. But what happens when a screen isn't just entertainment, but something a child with disabilities genuinely needs? In Episode 43 of Resurface Podcast, Rachel and Stephen react to Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 5 and its surprisingly complicated message about children, tablets, friendship, and growing up. As parents of three children, including a five-year-old daughter with significant disabilities, we have a different perspective on the screen-time debate. We talk about the struggle to balance imaginative play with technology, the changes we've noticed in our own children when screens are limited, and the reality of relying on devices more than we'd like. For our daughter Mila, screen time has sometimes been a necessity during overwhelming seasons of caregiving. We've also watched technology help her learn, develop skills, and participate in activities that might otherwise be inaccessible. That brings us to a side of the screen-time conversation that often gets overlooked: disability, accessibility, and inclusion. What does it mean when a tablet makes it possible for a child to sit through a doctor's appointment, visit a restaurant, or participate in the community? And what happens when the world expects children with invisible disabilities to adapt to environments that aren't designed for them? We don't have all the answers. We're trying to find a better balance ourselves. We also share a personal story about children trying to understand Mila's differences, discuss our family's rules about electronics, and consider whether Toy Story 5 got the balance between screens and real-world play right. **What did you think of Toy Story 5? And how do you handle screen time in your family? We'd love to hear your perspective in the comments.** Note: This discussion contains Toy Story 5 spoilers. Edited with Movavi Video Editor: https://www.movavi.com/ Some supplemental music licensed through Envato Elements