What’s the best screen time limit for children?

The best screen time limits for children vary by age, with medical organizations offering specific guidelines for younger children and more flexible, quality-focused advice for older ones.

For children younger than 18 months, screen use should be limited to video chatting with an adult. Between 18 and 24 months, screen time, if introduced, should be high-quality educational programming watched with a caregiver, avoiding solo use.

For children ages 2 to 5, non-educational screen time should be limited to about one hour per weekday and up to three hours on weekend days. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and World Health Organization (WHO) also recommend one hour or less per day of high-quality programming for this age group.

For children ages 5 and older, guidelines suggest generally no more than two hours per day, excluding time for homework. The emphasis shifts to encouraging healthy screen habits, ensuring media quality, and prioritizing activities like physical play, reading, and social interaction. Important practices include establishing tech-free zones (e.g., during meals and one hour before bedtime), keeping screens out of bedrooms, and utilizing parental controls. The overall quality of media and how it is used (e.g., co-viewing with a parent) is considered more important than the exact amount of time, as children learn best from human interaction.