By Sourabh Kumar
Every generation of parents faces its own challenges in raising children to become responsible, smart, and safe individuals. A decade ago, as technology began to take over our lives, many parents tried to limit screen time and encourage more off-screen activities. But today, with multiple devices and digital content within easy reach, it’s almost impossible to shield kids completely. The focus has therefore shifted, from keeping them away from screens to choosing what kind of content they watch, and how that experience can help shape them as individuals.
For millennials and the generations before them, growing up meant gathering around a single TV set with the entire family to watch Ramayan or Mahabharat. Screen time was about togetherness. Over time, as personal devices took over, that sense of shared viewing faded for a long period. Until recently, when co-viewing between parents and kids began making a quiet comeback. With affordable data, faster internet, and smart TVs, living rooms are once again becoming shared entertainment spaces. Wi-Fi-enabled televisions now bridge traditional TV and online content, bringing families back together for a new era of co-viewing.
Co-viewing reshapes family screen time
As parents started sharing screen time with their children, they also became more conscious of what their kids were watching. They began seeking “safe for kids” content, platforms and channels that promote learning, creativity, curiosity, and culture while staying entertaining. At PunToon Kids, we have seen this trend first-hand. Just three years ago, only 18% of our viewership came through connected TVs. Today, that number has risen to 51%. This shift is not just technological, it reflects a change in mindset, where family viewing is once again becoming a shared, mindful experience.
Indian kids’ content is undergoing a quiet revolution. Channels like ChuChu TV, Info Bells, & Peekaboo Kidz, have become household names, focusing on regional languages, values-based storytelling, and family-friendly music. Parents are no longer just looking for distraction but for digital experiences that echo the warmth of traditional storytelling. Co-viewing has turned what was once passive screen time into shared learning moments.
Responsible content becomes the new priority
In a multi-platform world, the future of kids’ entertainment will be shaped by two core values — responsibility and togetherness. Responsibility means compliance, transparency, and respect for children’s privacy. Togetherness reflects on creating content that brings families closer while they learn, laugh, and grow.
Co-viewing isn’t just a new trend, it’s a step toward rebuilding trust, strengthening family bonds, and shaping a generation that learns with curiosity and conscience. When brands and creators embrace both co-viewing and COPPA compliance, they don’t just make better content, they build a safer, smarter, and more responsible entertainment ecosystem for the next generation.
The author is founder and CEO, PunToon Kids