Realistic Screen Time Guidelines for Kids

Two weeks ago we looked at the research on how screen time impacts young kids. Based on the research findings, I feel pretty confident saying that it is a good idea for us to limit how much time our kids spend in front of screens (watching TV, using apps on tablets, playing video games, etc.).

Exactly how much we should limit this screen time isn’t clear. Is an hour a day okay? What about two hours? Is three hours way too much? Here are some things to consider as we decide what is best for our kids.

Things to consider when setting screen time guidelines for our kids

Expert recommendations

Considering the advice of experts is a good place to start. The American Academy of Pediatrics has been issuing screen time recommendations for years. They recommend the following:

• Children younger than 18 months should have no screen time other than video-chatting with family members or friends. If parents wish to introduce digital media to children aged 18 to 24 months, they should choose high-quality programming and watch these with their children to help them understand what they are seeing.
• Children aged 2 to 5 years should have only 1 hour of screen time per day. This hour should be spent on high-quality programs and parents should co-view these with their children.
• Children aged 6 years and older should have consistent limits on the time they spend using media. Parents should make sure they are using appropriate media and that screen time does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, and other behaviors essential to health.
• Parents should designate media-free times for the family (for example, during dinner and while traveling in the car). They should also designate media-free zones in the house (such as in bedrooms).
• Parents should have ongoing conversations with kids about online citizenship and safety.

Recently, the World Health Organization issued its first sedentary screen time recommendations. These are more restrictive than those issued by the AAP:

• Screen time should be avoided for children under 2 years.
• Children aged 2-4 years should have no more than 1 hour of screen time per day.

Types of screen time

When we think about screen time, many of us automatically assume this means watching TV or perhaps using an app on a smartphone or tablet. However, there are many different types of screen time (source).

• Passive consumption (e.g., watching TV shows, watching music videos)
• Interactive consumption (e.g., playing games, searching the Internet)
• Communication (e.g., video-chatting, using social media)
• ​Content creation (e.g., making a slide show, making a poster)

These types of activities will impact kids in different ways. Therefore, when setting screen time guidelines, it is important to consider what types of activities will comprise that screen time.

What kids do when they are not using screens

Personally, I think it is also important to consider what kids do when they are not in front of screens. I’ve not heard experts say this, but it makes sense to me. If I read to my kids each day, have tons of high-quality interactions with them, and they use most of their time playing in active, creative ways, then I don’t think a couple of hours in front of the TV will harm them. However, if I didn’t read to them, didn’t interact with them very much, and they engaged in sedentary, non-stimulating activities all day, then a couple of hours in front of the TV might have some of the negative effects on cognitive and speech development that I mentioned two weeks ago.

As I noted, this isn’t something experts have said. However, everything I’ve seen in my family and in the families around me indicates that what kids do outside of their screen time matters. As long as they spend most of their time interacting with their parents and peers, climbing playground equipment, reading books, building with blocks, running around, coloring, etc., then they do okay even with a couple (or even a few) hours of screen time each day.

What we do in our home

These things to consider can leave parents feeling confused and, if you’re like me, a little guilty because your kids have more screen time than the experts recommend. To be perfectly honest with you, I love letting my kids have some screen time. This is because sometimes I need a break. I’m a stay-at-home mom of three kids (a 4-year-old, a 2-year-old, and an 8-month-old). For the sake of my health and well-being, sometimes I need a break. Letting my kids watch TV for a bit gets me this break. It may not be the best way for them to spend their time, but it means their mom is more patient and attentive because she is less stressed. I think this is a pretty good trade-off!

When I sat down a few weeks ago to reassess our daily routine, I found it useful to narrow down these considerations into three important principles:

1. Screen time should comprise no more than a small portion of kids’ recreation time.
2. Programs watched and/or apps used during screen time should be educational.
3. Recreation activities apart from screen time should be diverse and include lots of interactions with adults/peers, physical activity, reading, and imaginative play.

In our home, this means that my kids get two short periods of screen time each day. They can watch educational TV shows after lunch until they go down to nap/rest time and while I prepare dinner. This amounts to around 2 hours each day. We also hold to the following guidelines:

• No screens during meals.
• No screens in bedrooms.
• Screens must be used in public areas of the house so mom or dad can see what is being viewed.
• No screens during the hour before bed (to prevent sleep disruption from the blue light emitted by screens).

I’d love to hear how you do things in your home. What are your screen time guidelines? How did you decide on these?

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