Too much time in front of a screen – TV, phone, tablet, or computer – means less time being active. Screen time has been associated with an increased prevalence of overweight and obesity, lower reading scores, and attention problems in kids.
Healthy Screen Habits by Age
We can’t avoid screens altogether, but we can establish 2 healthy screen habits per day based on a child’s age. The following list can help:
For children < 2 years old:
- Read 2 books per day
- Eliminate TV in the bedroom and entertainment screen time
For children ages 2-9 years old:
- Tablet use is ok, but discourage personal smart phones
- TV and tablet screens can be distracting in the bedroom, opt for those in the living room only!
- Limit recreational screen time, including gaming, to 2 hours per day
- Encourage kids to play a game or activity instead of binge-watching television
- Aim for 30 minutes of uninterrupted reading each day
For children ages 10 + years old:
- Personal smart phones are okay
- If your child has a phone, have them charge it in the kitchen or living room
- Eliminate smart phone use in the bedroom
- Have tech free time each day during homework and dinner. This includes going out to restaurants!
- Stay away from multitasking, stick to one activity at a time
- As a parent, check your child’s average hours on their phone
Download a printable guide: Healthy Screen Time Habits (PDF)
Additional Support for Encouraging Healthy Screen Time
- Establish a scheduled screen time so that kids are on a routine.
- Balance screen time with fun offline activities like reading, coloring, playing a game, or getting outside.
- Turn off autoplay so that natural breaks are created. This helps you limit viewing to one show or video.
- If your child becomes upset or angry, this is a normal reaction. Let them express themselves but try not to reinforce or reward that behavior by redirecting them to another activity they enjoy.