Screen Time Guidelines in Children
Screen Time and Children: Detailed Guidelines and Reasons
- For children under 18 months: Limit screen use to video chatting with an adult (e.g., with a parent who is away). Reason: At this age, children learn best through interactions with their caregivers and the environment, not through screens.
- Between 18 and 24 months: Limit screen time to watching educational programming with a caregiver. Reason: Children at this age can begin to learn from high-quality content, but they still need a caregiver’s guidance to help them understand and apply what they see.
- For children aged 2-5: Limit non-educational screen time to about 1 hour per weekday and 3 hours on weekends. Reason: Excessive screen time can interfere with cognitive, social, and emotional development. By setting limits, parents encourage a healthy balance between screen time and other important activities.
- For ages 6 and older: Encourage healthy habits and limit activities that include screens. Reason: As children grow older, they need to develop a wide range of skills and interests. Balancing screen time with other activities promotes overall well-being.
Additional tips for managing screen time:
- Familiarize yourself with programming to ensure it is age-appropriate.
- Discuss content with your child, highlighting positive behaviours and connecting it to real-life experiences.
- Be mindful of advertising’s influence on your child’s choices.
- Encourage your child to engage in activities that don’t involve screens, such as sports, music, art, and hobbies.
- Model safe and healthy screen habits for your child.
- Teach children about online privacy and safety.
- Determine when your child is ready for a personal device, considering their maturity and habits.
- Promote screen use that fosters creativity and connection with family and friends.
- Recognize that each family’s needs may differ based on their child’s maturity and habits.
- Maintain open communication with your child about screen time and address any concerns.
Remember, positive and healthy screen use is achievable with proper guidance and consistency. If you’re concerned about your child’s screen time, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. Visit drjohnflett.com and drflett.com for more information or contact their staff at 031 1000474.
