The screen time guide gives age-appropriate daily limits and activity recommendations based on American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and WHO guidelines. Select your child's age to get specific recommendations and tips for healthy screen habits.
Screen Time Recommendations
Building Healthy Screen Habits for Children
These screen time guidelines are evidence-based starting points. Every child and family is different — the goal is ensuring screen time doesn't displace essential activities: sleep, physical activity, reading, and face-to-face connection.
Quality Over Quantity
Not all screen time is equal. Video calls with grandparents, educational apps with parent participation, and interactive reading apps are different from passive cartoons. When children watch with a parent who discusses content — asking "what happened next?" or "why did she do that?" — learning and language outcomes improve significantly.
Create a Family Media Plan
The AAP's Family Media Plan (healthychildren.org) helps families set consistent rules: screen-free zones, screen-free times, balance requirements (physical activity, homework, chores before screens), and content filters. Having clear, consistent rules reduces conflict and helps children develop self-regulation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this screen time guide free?
Yes, completely free.
How much screen time should a 2-year-old have?
The AAP recommends no screen time except video chatting for children under 18–24 months. Ages 2–5: limit to 1 hour per day of high-quality programming. Ages 6 and older: consistent limits ensuring screen time doesn't displace sleep, physical activity, or face-to-face interaction.
What counts as screen time?
Screen time includes TV, tablets, phones, computers, and gaming consoles. Video chatting with family members is generally not counted in the same way as passive viewing. Educational and interactive content (reading apps, video calls with grandparents) is different from passive entertainment, but total exposure still matters.
Does educational content make screen time OK?
Educational content is better than passive entertainment, but it doesn't eliminate all concerns. Children under 18 months learn language better from real people than screens. Ages 2–5 benefit most from co-viewing with a parent who asks questions and engages with the content.
What are screen-free times I should establish?
Recommended screen-free times: at least 1 hour before bed (blue light disrupts sleep), during meals (family conversation time), during outdoor play, in the car for short trips. Create screen-free zones: bedrooms and the dinner table. Research consistently shows that bedroom TVs are associated with worse sleep, lower academic performance, and higher obesity rates.