What are the electronic use guidelines based on age?

Electronic Use Guidelines Based on Age

According to current guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and World Health Organization, children under 2 years should have no screen time (except video chatting), children aged 2-5 years should be limited to 1 hour or less per day of high-quality content, and children 5-18 years should be limited to 2 hours or less of recreational screen time daily. 1

Age-Specific Screen Time Guidelines

Children Under 2 Years

• No screen time recommended (with exception of video chatting) 2, 1
• Only 24.7% of children in this age group currently meet this guideline 2
• Instead, prioritize:
  • Interactive activities and floor-based play
  • At least 30 minutes of tummy time spread throughout the day
  • Face-to-face interaction with caregivers
  • Reading books together
  • At least 180 minutes of physical activity throughout the day 1
• Video chat is uniquely acceptable for this age group as it permits contingent social interactions that support development 3

Children Aged 2-5 Years

• Limit screen time to 1 hour or less per day 2, 1
• Only 35.6% of children in this age group currently meet this guideline 2
• Screen time should be:
  • High-quality educational content
  • Co-viewed with parents when possible
  • Balanced with at least 180 minutes of physical activity daily 1
• Two or more hours of daily screen time is associated with lower psychological well-being among preschool-aged children 4

Children Aged 5-18 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 1

Implementation Strategies for Parents and Caregivers

1. Create screen-free zones and times:

   • No TVs or screens in children's bedrooms
   • Device-free meal times
   • Parents should model healthy screen use behaviors 1

2. 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 1

3. Monitor screen time impact:

   • Watch for negative effects on sleep, physical activity, eyesight, and mental health 5
   • Be aware that excessive screen time is correlated with increased risk for obesity and other cardiometabolic risk factors 5

Important Considerations and Pitfalls

• Parental influence is crucial: Parents' own screen time behavior influences their views on screen time restrictions for children. Adults who spend ≤2 hours/day in leisure-related screen time are less likely to permit children >2 hours/day of screen time 6

• Socioeconomic disparities: Children living in poverty have higher rates of screen time, with 58.9% exceeding recommended limits in 2021 4

• Pandemic effects: While screen time increased during COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, it returned to pre-pandemic levels for most children by 2021, except for those living in poverty 4

• Measurement challenges: Different measurement methods may yield different results. For children under 2 years, prevalence of meeting guidelines was higher when measured as a combination of screen activities versus TV/movies only 2

• Quality matters: The effect of screen time is weighted by the type of media used and how it is used. Video chat, for example, has unique benefits for young children's learning and social-emotional development 3

By following these age-appropriate guidelines, parents and caregivers can help minimize the potential negative health consequences of excessive screen time while maximizing opportunities for healthy development.