How much screen time is okay for kids?
From toddlers to teens, here’s what pediatric guidelines recommend, what studies show about screens and development, and how to set limits that work.
For young children, less is better: the World Health Organization recommends no screen time before age 1 (except video calls) and no more than an hour a day for ages 2 to 4; the American Academy of Pediatrics gives similar advice. More screen time in toddlers is linked to lower developmental scores later. For teens, the link between overall screen time and well-being is small — what they do online and what screens replace matter more.
- Under 18–24 months, avoid screens except video chatting.
- Ages 2–5: no more than one hour a day of quality content, ideally watched together.
- For older kids, focus on content and on protecting sleep, activity and family time.
Phones, tablets, TVs, gaming consoles — screens are everywhere, and parents often feel guilty no matter what they do. Here’s what the research actually says.
Guidelines for young children
The World Health Organization recommends for kids under 5 3:
- Under 1 year: no screen time.
- Age 2: no more than 1 hour a day of sedentary screen time — less is better.
- Ages 3–4: no more than 1 hour a day.
The American Academy of Pediatrics gives similar advice: avoid screens other than video chatting before 18–24 months, and limit kids 2 to 5 to about an hour a day of high-quality programming, ideally watched together.
What studies show
Sheri Madigan and colleagues followed more than 2,400 children in Canada 1. Toddlers with more screen time at ages 2 and 3 scored lower on developmental screening tests a year or two later — in communication, motor skills, problem-solving and social skills. The likely reason: screens replace talking, playing and moving.
For teenagers, the picture is different. Amy Orben and Andrew Przybylski analyzed data from more than 350,000 adolescents 2. Overall technology use explained less than half a percent of the differences in teens’ well-being — a tiny effect. For older kids, what they do online and what screens crowd out matter more than raw hours.
How to set limits that work
- Screen-free zones: bedrooms and the dinner table.
- Screen-free times: the hour before bed, the first hour after school.
- Co-view and talk. Ask questions about what they’re watching or playing.
- Choose quality content — slower, story-based shows over fast-paced clips.
- Model it. Kids notice when parents scroll at dinner.
- Make a family media plan together and revisit it as kids grow.
Watch for warning signs
Trouble sleeping, irritability when screens are taken away, dropping activities or friends, or falling grades can mean screen use is crowding out what kids need. See also Teens and social media.
Frequently asked questions
Do educational apps count?
Yes, they count as screen time, though quality content is better than random videos. Watching or playing together and talking about it helps most.
How do we create a family media plan?
Agree on screen-free zones (bedrooms, meals), screen-free times (an hour before bed) and what content is okay. The AAP offers a free online Family Media Plan tool.
Sources
- Madigan, S., Browne, D., Racine, N., Mori, C., & Tough, S. (2019). Association between screen time and children’s performance on a developmental screening test. JAMA Pediatrics, 173(3), 244–250. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.5056
- Orben, A., & Przybylski, A. K. (2019). The association between adolescent well-being and digital technology use. Nature Human Behaviour, 3(2), 173–182. doi:10.1038/s41562-018-0506-1
- World Health Organization (2019). Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age. link
Evidence-based · Human-centered · Practical — how we write and fact-check our articles.
This article is for educational purposes and does not replace advice from a licensed professional. We cite original research and update articles when new evidence appears. Spotted an error? Let us know — see our editorial policy.
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