The main screen time recommendations by age are fairly consistent: no screens for babies, no more than about an hour a day for children aged 2 to 5, and, from about 6, a limit you agree on as a family, with screen-free meals and no screens in the hour before bed. The exact numbers differ a little between health bodies, which is why this guide puts them side by side and then shows you how to turn them into a plan that works at home.
In brief:
- Under 2: screens are not recommended, apart from video calls with family.
- Ages 2 to 5: no more than about one hour a day, ideally with you.
- From 6: agree a daily limit together, and keep sleep and play first.
- Meals, bedrooms and the hour before bed work best as screen-free times.
- A visible timer, a family plan and calm alternatives matter more than strict numbers.
In this article · 8 min read
The guidelines are a starting point, not a pass-or-fail test. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) said in its 2026 policy that it wants families to move beyond simple screen-time limits and to focus on quality, context and conversation (AAP HealthyChildren, 2026). In practice that means two questions for every day: what was my child doing on the screen, and what did the screen replace? Sleep, movement, talking and play are what we want to protect.
Screen time recommendations by age: what health bodies say
Each organisation words its advice a little differently, so the table below shows the main age bands side by side. It is a guide for your own family rules, not a legal limit.
| Age | WHO (2019) | Canadian Paediatric Society (2017) | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 | Screen time is not recommended | Not recommended under 2 | AAP: infants under 18 months learn best from real-world interactions |
| 1 year | Sedentary screen time is not recommended | Not recommended under 2 | |
| 2 years | No more than 1 hour; less is better | Under 1 hour a day (ages 2 to 5) | |
| 3 to 5 | No more than 1 hour (ages 3 and 4) | Under 1 hour a day, and none in the hour before bed | |
| 6 to 12 | Not covered (WHO's guidance is for under 5s) | Not covered (under 5s) | AAP 2026: no fixed number, focus on sleep, attention, activity and family time |
The WHO guidance applies to sedentary screen time, such as watching videos or playing games, in children under 5 (WHO, 2019). The Canadian Paediatric Society adds three useful habits: choose age-appropriate, interactive programmes, be present and watch together when you can, and switch screens off when nobody is using them (Canadian Paediatric Society, 2017).
For school-age children, many guides give a daily range rather than a rule. The Spanish Paediatric Association, for example, suggests a maximum of about one hour a day at ages 7 to 12 with adult supervision and about two hours at 13 to 16, with limits that do not get in the way of sleep, physical activity or friendships (Quirónsalud, 2026, quoting the AEP). The German initiative Schau hin! suggests, for children from 10, about 10 minutes a day per year of age, or an hour per year of age a week (Schau hin!). Treat all of these as orientation, not as a verdict on your child.
Does school screen time count?
Most guides count leisure screen time. Homework done on a device is usually treated separately, but it is worth keeping an eye on the total and on whether your child takes real breaks.
Why it matters for attention and sleep
The AAP's 2026 guidance notes that heavy solo screen use in the early years is linked with delays in language, thinking, social and fine motor skills, with disrupted sleep and with more behaviour problems, and that in school-age children it is linked with poorer sleep, school performance and attention control (AAP HealthyChildren, 2026). These are associations: screens do not cause ADHD, and many children who use them a lot do not struggle with attention. But for a child who is already restless or easily distracted, long stretches of fast, flashing content can make evenings harder, so a clear structure often helps.
How to cut screen time at home, step by step
Rules work best when children help to make them. Try this order over a couple of weeks, one step at a time.
- Look at what happens now. For three days, simply note when screens are on, which ones and for what. Do not judge, just look. Many families find that background TV counts for more than they expected.
- Agree on a number and a time. Use the table above to choose a daily limit for your child's age, and decide when the screen time happens (for example after homework). Write it down together.
- Make the limit visible. A kitchen timer or a picture schedule is fairer than "five more minutes". Give a two-minute warning before the end.
- Create screen-free zones. Start with meals and bedrooms. The AAP suggests bedrooms and mealtimes, especially the hour before bed (AAP HealthyChildren, 2026), and the Canadian Paediatric Society also advises avoiding screens for at least an hour before bed.
- Have a charging place. One shared spot, such as the hallway, where all devices rest at night, makes the rule the same for everyone, including adults.
- Offer something to do instead. Banning without a plan leaves a gap. Keep a short list of alternatives your child chose: building, drawing, a ball outside, a board game, a story.
- Praise the switch-off. Switching off is hard. A short word of recognition ("you stopped when the timer rang") works better than a lecture.
- Review every few weeks. Rules need to grow as your child grows.
A sample family media plan
| When | Rule | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| School mornings | No screens before school | Breakfast, a short walk, a song |
| After school | A set slot of 30 to 60 minutes, depending on age | Snack and play first |
| Meals | Devices out of the room for everyone | Talk about one good thing from the day |
| The hour before bed | Screens off | Bath, story, soft music |
| One day a week | A screen-free morning or afternoon | Park, baking, a board game |
What if my child gets upset?
Switching off can bring big feelings, especially with games and videos that autoplay. Expect some protest in the first week. Stay calm, name the feeling ("it is hard to stop when it is fun"), keep the rule the same and offer the next activity. If the outbursts are very intense or frequent, our guide to tantrums in 5 year olds has a three-step plan, and a calm down corner at home can help children settle afterwards.
Where a book can help
Making rules is one thing; keeping them going on a tired Tuesday is another. 100 Ways to Support Kids with ADHD and ADD by Magda Pabst is a practical workbook for parents and teachers of children aged about 3 to 12. One of its ten areas is dedicated to reducing screen, media and social media exposure, with ten techniques: limiting the number of devices at home, agreed time slots on a visible chart, screen-free zones and days, relaxation rituals without screens, talking about the impact of media, alternative activities, reading and a reward system for keeping the rules. Another chapter suggests no screens at least an hour before bed.
The book was written with ADHD in mind, but these ideas suit most families who want calmer screen habits. It is a practical companion, not a medical tool. The boxes on this page show the Books Go titles available for children.
Ideas for screen-free time
The easiest way to keep a limit is to have the next thing ready. A few quick ideas:
- Five-minute movement breaks between tasks, such as jumping, balancing on a line of tape or a dance to one song.
- Cooking together, with your child measuring and following the steps.
- A quiet corner with books, drawing materials and a blanket.
- A family game that is easy to start: cards, a memory game, a puzzle.
- Outdoors for a short walk, to spot something specific such as birds or leaves.
For more play ideas, see our article on activities for kids with ADHD, which also works for any lively child. You will find more guides on the Books Go blog and on the Books Go Publications home page.
When to ask a professional
Talk to your child's doctor or paediatrician if:
- your child cannot manage everyday life without a screen, or has strong distress when it is taken away, again and again;
- sleep, mood, school or friendships have clearly got worse and screens seem to be part of it;
- you are worried about attention, hyperactivity or impulsive behaviour at home and at school over several months;
- your child is showing signs of anxiety, low mood or withdrawal;
- content or contact online has frightened or upset your child.
Asking for advice is a sign of care, not of failure.
Frequently asked questions
How much screen time is OK for a 3-year-old?
Health bodies such as the WHO and the Canadian Paediatric Society suggest no more than about one hour a day at this age, and less is better. Choose slow, age-appropriate content and watch together when you can.
Is any screen time fine for a baby?
The WHO does not recommend screen time for babies under 1, and the Canadian Paediatric Society does not recommend it under 2. Video calls with family are generally treated as a different case, because they involve real interaction.
How much screen time is OK for a 10-year-old?
There is no single figure. Some guides suggest roughly one hour a day for school-age children, and others suggest about 10 minutes per year of age. A plan agreed with your child, that protects sleep, homework, movement and friends, is more useful than a number alone.
Do educational apps count?
Quality matters, and the AAP focuses on content and context. Interactive, age-appropriate programmes that you use together are better than passive videos. Even so, they still use time that could go to sleep, movement and play, so many families count them too.
Do screens cause ADHD?
Screen use is not known to cause ADHD, but heavy use can make attention and sleep harder for any child, and especially for children who are already restless. If you suspect ADHD, speak to your doctor.
What is the best time to turn screens off in the evening?
At least an hour before bed, according to the AAP and the Canadian Paediatric Society. Replace it with a calm routine such as a bath, a story and soft music.
Sources
- To grow up healthy, children need to sit less and play more, WHO (2019)
- Helping Kids Thrive in a Digital World: AAP Policy Explained, HealthyChildren.org, American Academy of Pediatrics (2026)
- Screen time and young children: a guide for clinicians, Canadian Paediatric Society (2017)
- Medienzeiten: Feste Bildschirmzeiten für Kinder vereinbaren, Schau hin! (in German)
- Pantallas y niños: cuánto es demasiado, Quirónsalud (2026, in Spanish)
This article is for general information only and does not replace advice from a doctor, dietitian or other qualified professional.
