Recommended Screen Time Limits for Children by Age
Children should adhere to age-specific screen time limits: no screen time for children under 2 years, maximum 1 hour per day for ages 2-5 years, and no more than 2 hours per day for children 5-18 years old. 1
Age-Specific Screen Time Recommendations
Infants (0-12 months)
- No screen time recommended 1, 2
- Focus instead on:
- Interactive activities and floor-based play
- At least 30 minutes of tummy time spread throughout the day
- Face-to-face interaction with caregivers
Toddlers (1-2 years)
- No screen time for children under 2 years 1
- For children at exactly 2 years: limit to less than 1 hour per day 1
- Prioritize:
- Interactive play activities
- Reading books together
- Physical activity (at least 180 minutes throughout the day)
Early Childhood (2-5 years)
- Limit screen time to 1 hour or less per day 1
- Only 35.6% of children in this age group currently meet this guideline 1
- Screen time should be:
- High-quality educational content
- Co-viewed with parents when possible
- Balanced with at least 180 minutes of physical activity daily
Middle Childhood (5-12 years)
- Limit recreational screen time to 2 hours or less per day 1
- Ensure:
- At least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily
- Muscle and bone-strengthening activities at least 3 days per week
- 9-12 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night
Adolescence (13-18 years)
- Limit recreational screen time to 2 hours or less per day 1
- Balance with:
- 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily
- Muscle and bone-strengthening activities at least 3 days per week
- 8-10 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night
Implementation Strategies for Parents
Environmental Controls
- No TVs or screens in children's bedrooms 1
- Create screen-free zones in the home
- Set device-free meal times
- Model healthy screen use behaviors (parental screen time strongly influences children's habits) 3
Content Management
- Choose age-appropriate, educational content
- Use parental controls and content filters
- Preview content before allowing children to view it
- Co-view and discuss content with children when possible
Potential Health Impacts of Excessive Screen Time
Research shows excessive screen time is associated with:
- Increased risk of obesity 4
- Reduced physical activity 4
- Attention problems 4
- Behavioral issues 4
- Psychological concerns 4
- Increased consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages 5
Common Pitfalls and Challenges
- Parental screen use: Adults' own screen habits strongly influence their ability to set and enforce limits for children 6, 3
- Inconsistent enforcement: Screen time limits are more effective when consistently applied across all settings
- Weekend/holiday increases: Parents report greater concern about increased screen time during weekends and holidays 5
- Multiple device access: Children often have access to various screens (TVs, tablets, smartphones, computers, gaming consoles)
- Social pressure: Peer influence and social norms may make restrictions challenging
Special Considerations
While some research questions the psychological impact of strict time limits 7, the preponderance of evidence and current guidelines from major health organizations support implementing age-appropriate screen time limits to protect children's physical and mental health 1.
Family contextual factors, including parental stress levels and social support, significantly impact parents' ability to restrict children's screen time 6. Healthcare providers should acknowledge these challenges when counseling families about implementing screen time limits.