How Much Screen Time Is Right for Each Age? A Practical Guide for Parents

Most parents already know screens need limits. The harder question is how much — and the answer changes a lot between a three-year-old and a thirteen-year-old. Here is a simple age-by-age guide, based on widely used paediatric guidance.

Under 2 years: as little as possible

Health organisations such as the World Health Organization recommend no screen time for children under two, apart from video calls with family. At this age, children learn language and movement from faces, voices and hands-on play — something a screen cannot replace.

Ages 2–5: under one hour a day

For young children, guidance suggests no more than one hour a day of good-quality content, ideally watched together. Talk about what they see, and switch off when the programme ends rather than letting one video roll into the next.

This is also the age when independence grows fastest. Time spent pouring, building, drawing and playing outdoors does far more for concentration than any educational app.

Ages 6–10: clear, consistent limits

Primary-age children use screens for schoolwork too, so a single number is less useful. Instead, separate learning screens from leisure screens, and keep leisure to a set window — for example, 30–60 minutes after homework and play. What matters most is that screens never replace sleep, physical activity, reading or family time.

Ages 11–16: build self-control, not just rules

Teenagers need gradually more freedom — and help to manage it. Agree on rules together: phones out of bedrooms at night, no devices at meals, and focused study time without notifications. Talk openly about social media, online friendships and how certain apps are designed to hold attention.

Five rules that work at every age

• Screen-free bedrooms at night. Sleep is the first thing screens take away.
• No screens at meals. Meals are for conversation.
• The hour before bed is screen-free. It helps children fall asleep faster.
• Parents go first. Children copy what we do far more than what we say.
• Replace, don’t just remove. Offer something better: a game, a walk, a book, a job in the kitchen.

Signs it is too much

Watch for trouble falling asleep, irritability when the device is taken away, less interest in play or friends, or slipping concentration at school. If you notice these, reduce gradually and add more outdoor and hands-on time — most children adjust within a couple of weeks.

How school can help

A school day full of movement, sport, music, art and real conversation naturally balances time on screens at home. When home and school follow the same simple habits, children find it much easier to switch off.