Setting Healthy Screen Time Limits for Kids

By GetParentingTips.com staff
Read Time: 7 Minutes

Screens are part of everyday life as you text, scroll through social media, map a route, catch up on news, chat or shop online, relax with a video, and do so much more. Many adults spend 11 hours a day or more in front of a computer, phone, tablet, TV, or another type of screen.

Screens are also becoming a bigger part of life for young children. It's easy to let a fussy toddler play a game on your smartphone or turn on a preschooler's favorite video while you get dinner on the table. Screens are a source of education and entertainment for young children, not to mention a handy way to video chat with friends and family. Kids seem to adapt to screens at a very young age.

However, as a parent, you probably recognize that unlimited screen time is not a good idea for young children. How much screen time should you allow? How should you set screen time limits that work for your family? Setting boundaries for screen time is important for the entire family.

Did You Know

First, your instinct is right - unlimited screen time is not healthy for young children. Spending too much time on a screen can affect a young child's brain development and cause problems with attention, learning, and critical thinking skills. Beyond that, sitting in front of a screen takes away time children need for important activities like playing with toys, running around, looking at books, and interacting with siblings or other kids. Children learn important skills “in real life” rather than watching them on a screen. So, setting screen time limits is something all parents should consider.

In addition to missing out on non-screen activities, young children can be exposed to content that is scary or confusing. For example, games or videos may show parents leaving their children alone or show children being rewarded for misbehavior. Children thrive when they feel safe and secure and have clear and consistent guidelines about behavior. Setting boundaries  will help protect children from inappropriate content and make sure they have time for age-appropriate activities.

Screen Time Recommendations by Age

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents follow these screen time guidelines for young children.

18 months and younger

Avoid screen time except for video chats with family members or friends, which can help children learn to interact with others. Participate in video chats with your child so he (or she) can learn from you.

18-24 months

Choose high-quality educational programming or games and use them together with your child. Screen time should be limited to a few minutes a day, not including video chatting. Children at this age should not have alone screen time.

2-5 years

Choose high-quality educational programming or apps and use them together with your child. Screen time should be limited to one hour a day or less, not including video chatting. Older children may use screens on their own some of the time, such as watching an educational video, but they should not have access to media unless you have chosen it for them.

5 years and older

Place consistent limits on the child's screen time, including educational media, games, and entertainment programming. For example, you might permit up to one hour of screen time per day during the week outside of school or homework, and up to two hours on weekends.

Every family is different, and you need a screen time plan that works for you. Try using the American Academy of Pediatrics' handy tool to create a Family Media Plan that reflects your situation and priorities. The tool includes a media time calculator that can help you figure out how much time screen time to allow after you add up the time needed for sleep, physical activity, school, family time, and other daily activities.

Creating a family media plan is a great way to limit screen time - but give yourself a break if things don't always go right. Some days may be so hectic that you allow your kids more screen time than usual. That's okay! Once you've created a family media plan, you'll have a good feel for games and programs that are at the right developmental level for your kids and you can relax about it.

Screen Time Do's and Don'ts

Here are some guidelines to help you make screen time safe and healthy for young children. The key is to be intentional about what your child views and for how long each day.

Do

• Choose high-quality games and educational programs that are appropriate for your child's development. For example, toddlers respond to interactive games that feature shapes, colors, and animals, while older children may enjoy games involving counting, drawing, or exploring nature. Choose videos and games that are simple, colorful, and suited to your child's interest and attention. Lots of products claim to be educational for young children, but not all are. Common Sense media is a good source for information about online resources for kids.
• Use screen time to interact with your child and teach lessons about the world. Make screen time a shared activity as much as possible. Talk about the programs you watch and teach what is appropriate.
• Schedule plenty of non-screen time into your child's day. Children learn and grow through unstructured play time and physical activity. Screen time should be an add-on rather than a replacement for these important activities.
• Designate media-free zones and times. Screen time has its place, but there are places and times where screens don't belong. Put all screens away during mealtimes, family outings, and 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime. Try setting up one spot in the house where rechargeable devices are plugged in overnight.
• Set a good example. The most powerful parenting tool you have is to model the behavior you want to see in your children. Pay attention to your media habits and see whether you are setting a positive example. If you are constantly on your phone, chances are your child will also want to be on a screen as much as possible.

Don't

• Let a young child choose games or programming unless you have reviewed and approved them. Do your research before you share a program or game with your child.
• Leave the TV on as white noise or let your child spend time alone staring at a screen. One danger of unsupervised screen time is that children get used to being passive viewers, which can set up bad habits as they get older. Help them make good habits by limiting what they watch and for how long.
• Put a TV or internet-connected screen in your child's bedroom. Internet-connected devices should be in the public areas of the house, such as the living room, so you can supervise their use.

4 Tips for Parents

Creating a family media plan helps you set safe and healthy screen time boundaries for young children. It also lays the foundation for healthy media use as children get older and have more independence. Here are 4 tips to help you set and keep screen time limits.

Screens are part of everyone's daily life, and it's not realistic to keep young children away from screens all the time. However, limiting what kids are exposed to, and for how long, gives them plenty of time for healthy activities and encourages them to have a healthy relationship with media as they get older. If you are concerned about your child's screen time or how he reacts to games or programs, talk to your pediatrician or family physician.

For More Information

• Common Sense Media is a non-profit focused on families and the media, with resources also available in Spanish.
• Create a family media plan using the American Academy of Pediatrics' online template, available in English and Spanish.
• Download and print Screen Time and Your Kids, an excerpt from the bestseller Baby 411 by Ari Brown and Denise Fields, in our Parent Resource Library.
• Use the National Institute of Health's “Screen Time Chart” to help plan your family's screen schedule.

Additional Resources

• American Academy of Pediatrics media guidelines:
  • Screen time recommendations
  • Family media use plan
• Kids Health screen time guidelines:
  • Babies and Toddlers
  • Preschoolers
  • School Age
• American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Facts for Families:
  • Screen Time and Children