Screen Time Recommendations by Age Chart
As a parent, if you have ever wondered “How much screen time is too much?” you have come to the right place!
With the help of a little research, we have made a screen time recommendations by age chart that will help guide you to make the best decisions for you and your family.
Since technology is at the forefront of today’s society, it can be easy to find yourself hours deep into a screen time activity without even realizing how much time has passed.
With new research constantly emerging about the damaging effects of excess screen time, monitoring your child’s technological use is now more important than ever.
Average Screen Time by Age
Before we dive into the screen time recommendations by age chart, let’s look at the average screen time by age for U.S. children.
This information comes directly from the Common Sense Consensus and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
| AGE | SCREEN TIME AVERAGE |
| 0-2 YEARS | 49 MINUTES PER DAY |
| 2-4 YEARS | 2.5 HOURS PER DAY |
| 5-8 YEARS | 3 HOURS PER DAY |
| 8-10 YEARS | 6 HOURS PER DAY |
| 11-14 YEARS | 9 HOURS PER DAY |
| 15-18 YEARS | 7.5 HOURS PER DAY |
More than 90% of these hours result from recreational use such as TV, video viewing, and gaming.
Average Screen Time Recommendations by Age Chart
Managing your child’s screen time can be a challenging task in this day and age. Creating a screen time plan is essential for your child’s health and wellness.
To learn more about why excess screen time is bad for kids, please refer to this article here.
Below are the most recent screen time guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
| AGE | SCREEN TIME RECOMMENDATIONS |
| BABIES: 0-18 MONTHS | – Zero screen time except occasional video calling with family or friends. |
| TODDLERS: 18-24 MONTHS | – Less than 1 hour a day of educational programs with an active and engaged parent or caregiver present. |
| PRESCHOOLERS: 2-5 YEARS | – Non-educational programs should be limited to 1 hour per day on weekdays and 3 hours per day on weekends |
| SCHOOL-AGED: 6-10 YEARS | – Recreational screen time should be limited to no more than 2 hours per day. |
| ADOLSCENTS: 10+ YEARS | – Combination of recreational and homework-related screen time should not exceed 2-4 hours daily. |
How to Reduce Screen Time: Tips and Tricks
1. Set Rules for Screen Time Use
Designate specific times when screen time is allowed. We highly recommend avoiding screens during meals and 1 hour before bedtime.
2. Include More Outdoor Play
There are so many amazing benefits of outdoor play for kids. Try going on a nature walk or gather some children together and play these 10 fun outdoor games!
3. Create a Screen Time Checklist
Make a checklist of everything kids need to do before screen time is allowed. This might include getting dressed, brushing teeth, making bed, etc.
Kids thrive with a checklist and this is a great way to encourage the completion of daily chores with a small screen time reward.
4. Set a Good Example
One of the best ways to help reduce screen time is to make it a family effort.
This research study, published in the journal Pediatric Research found that parental screen use was strongly associated with increased screen time for adolescents.
This is one of the many reasons why it is so important to always be a good example for your children.
The Bottom Line For Screen Time
It is possible to create a healthy and positive screen time environment. Try your best to follow the recommended guidelines and always be mindful of the amount and type of content you and your child are engaging in.
For more resources, check out Healthychildren.org. They have some great resources for parents surrounding the topic of screen time.
