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Screen time & digital

IAP and WHO screen-time guidance turned into a family rulebook by age.

Screens are part of modern family life, and the goal is not zero but balanced and purposeful. What a child does instead of a screen — talking, playing, moving, sleeping — is what powers early learning, so the guidance below (from the IAP and WHO) is really about protecting that time. The habits you set now shape a lifetime relationship with screens.

What it looks like, age by age

Where to focus on screen time & digital at each stage. Tap your child's age above for a fuller picture.

👶 0–12 months

Avoid screen time altogether, apart from occasional video calls with family. Babies learn from faces and real objects, not screens.

🚼 1–2 years

Keep screens to a minimum, and none is better. If you do use them, co-view and talk about what you see; never during meals or before sleep.

🗣️ 2–3 years

No more than about an hour a day of good-quality content, less is better, always co-viewed. Protect meals, play and outdoor time.

🎨 3–5 years

Up to about an hour a day of quality content, co-viewed and talked about. Keep bedrooms, meals and the hour before sleep screen-free.

📚 5–8 years

Consistent family limits, quality over quantity, and firm screen-free zones — meals, bedtimes and bedrooms. Model the habits you want to see.

Try this at home

Free, DIY-first activities using what you already have. No brands, no shopping list.

Family habit

Screen-free meals

Make every meal a no-screen zone for the whole family, adults included. Meals become talk time, which powers language.

You need: a family agreement
Predictable limits

A visible daily rhythm

Agree when screens are on and off and put it where everyone sees it. A clear rhythm cuts the constant negotiation.

You need: a simple chart
Active viewing

Co-view and talk

Watch together and ask questions about what you see, so a screen becomes a shared, active experience, not a babysitter.

You need: a screen, your attention
Better sleep

A wind-down hour

Switch off all screens about an hour before bed and swap in a bath, a story and quiet talk for calmer, deeper sleep.

You need: a bedtime routine
🗓️ Build a week of activitiesFree weekly planner by your child's age ✅ Track learning behavioursA gentle, non-medical checklist by age

When to check with someone

Every child is different. Talk to your paediatrician if screens routinely crowd out sleep, meals, play or talking, if turning them off triggers extreme distress every time, or if you are worried about your child\'s attention, mood or development. The concern is not the screen itself but what it is replacing. See our milestone tracker for the medical checklist.

📚 Reviewed against

This guide was checked against the sources below. It is general parenting guidance, not medical advice — for any concern about your child's development, talk to your paediatrician.

Questions parents ask

How much screen time is okay by age?
The WHO and IAP advise no screens under two (bar video calls), no more than about an hour a day of co-viewed quality content for two-to-five year olds with less being better, and consistent family limits with screen-free meals and bedtimes for older children.
Are educational apps and videos good for learning?
For young children, real-world play and conversation teach far more than any app. Well-made content, watched with you and talked about, can have a place — but it should add to, not replace, hands-on learning and family time.
How do I cut screen time without daily battles?
Set a clear, visible routine so limits are predictable rather than negotiated each time, keep firm screen-free zones (meals, bedrooms, the hour before sleep), offer an appealing alternative, and model the habits yourself.

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