Recommended Screen

Time by Age: Here’s What

the Experts Say
Overview: Doctors are concerned about
kids learning sedentary behavior at a
young age due to excessive screen use. As
a result, guidelines recommend low
amounts of screen time at early ages,
loosening limits slightly as kids get older.
And there are some behaviors, such as
limiting the use of screens as “babysitters”
and using parental control software, that
are recommended across the board.

Why Doctors Are Concerned

Doctors and other experts have worried
about children’s media use for decades,
and that particular dispute may never be
resolved. Social media challenges
celebrating dangerous behavior and the
difficulties we all have with digital
wellness don’t help. Yet for doctors, the
biggest concern is what kids are not doing
when they use a screen — moving.

According to the WHO, the biggest

problem is that screens encourage
sedentary behavior. As a result, they
recommend their usage be limited until
kids develop healthy habits that don’t
revolve around video time or when their
favorite TV show airs.

Recommended Screen Time

by Age
The following screen time limits are the
current guidelines, according to the
American Academy of Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry.

0-18 months: The only screen use

recommended is video chatting with
a close relative, such as a parent
away on a trip. Otherwise, screens
should be avoided as much as
possible.
18-24 months: Educational
programming is OK’d for a few hours
a week, with a parent watching and
playing along. The screen should be
a supplement to an activity, not the
focus of the activity.
2 years to 5 years: More educational
screen time alone is fine, but anything
non-educational should be kept to an
hour per weekday and three or less
on weekend days.
6 and up: At this age,
recommendations are centered
around encouraging habits and
hobbies that don’t involve screens.
Continue to limit non-educational
screen use on weekdays while
allowing a bit more on weekends. As
kids make friends, and join more
after-school and weekend activities,
use their schedule and physical
activity level to help determine what
screen time is appropriate.

Recommendations for All Ages

Limit the use of screens as
“pacifiers” or “babysitters.” While
occasionally it will be necessary for
parents to pop in a movie while they
get something else done, consider
other activities, especially as kids get
older, such as crafts they can do
themselves.
Model positive screen usage and
behavior. Kids learn best from
observing their parents, and by
keeping your phone in your pocket
and limiting your TV usage, they’ll
pick up the habit from you.
Encourage physical activity. Build
it into their screen time with dancing
games and educational content that
helps kids get up and move.
Limit the screens in bedrooms. This
is especially important for the hour
before bedtime. Set up a charging
station in a common area of the
home where devices have to be
parked for the night.
Use parental controls. Consider the
controls built into your kids’ devices
and apps as well as third-party
software like Screen Time.

How Screen Time Can Help

Busy parents of kids of all ages sometimes
need help guiding their kids to healthier
technology use. Screen Time can help by
letting you set screen time limits and to
know where your kids are spending their
time online. See for yourself by trying
Screen Time risk-free.

! Parenting Hacks

" Previous

Simple screen time management and parental

monitoring tools that enable parents to have
proactive discussions about digital rules and
usage.

Language:

English

COMPANY

About Screen Time

Product

Mission

Our Blog

Privacy Policy

Terms Of Use

SUPPORT

Contact Us

Help Center

Getting Started

GET SCREEN TIME

# $ %

© 2022 Screen Time Labs Ltd ® All rights reserved