Online Safety for Kids: A Practical Guide for Parents
How to keep kids safe online at every age: parental controls, privacy settings, gaming chat, cyberbullying, sextortion and AI fakes, and the talks that matter.
Screen Time by Age: Realistic Limits for Kids
How much screen time is right at each age according to the AAP and WHO, plus realistic family rules, quality content and how to make limits stick.
Key takeaways
- Under 18 months: avoid screens other than video chatting. Ages 2–5: about one hour a day of quality content, ideally watched together.
- From age 6, set consistent limits that protect sleep, activity, homework and family time.
- What children watch, and who they watch with, matters as much as how long.
On this page
Screens are part of family life, and pretending otherwise doesn’t help anyone. The question isn’t whether children should use screens, but how much, what, and when. Here is what the leading guidance says for each age, and how to turn it into rules your family can actually keep.
Screen time guidelines by age
| Age | What experts recommend |
|---|---|
| Under 18 months | Avoid screens, except video chatting with family (AAP). The WHO advises no screen time before age 1. |
| 18–24 months | If you introduce media, choose high-quality programs and watch together. |
| 2–5 years | About 1 hour a day of high-quality programming, ideally watched with a parent (AAP); no more than 1 hour, and less is better (WHO, ages 2–4). |
| 6–12 years | Consistent limits that protect sleep, physical activity, homework and family time. |
| Teens | A family media plan agreed together, with phones out of bedrooms at night. |
Why the limits matter
Screens aren’t harmful in themselves, but heavy use can crowd out the things children need most to thrive: sleep, active play, conversation and hands-on learning. Screens in the bedroom and before bed are consistently linked to shorter, poorer sleep.
Quality matters as much as quantity
- Choose slow, age-appropriate shows designed for learning over fast-paced, overstimulating content.
- Watch together when you can. Talking about what you see (“Why do you think she felt sad?”) turns screen time into learning time.
- Prefer creating over scrolling. Drawing apps, coding games and video calls with grandparents are different from endless autoplay.
- Turn off autoplay so each episode is a choice, not a default.
Rules that actually work
- Create screen-free zones. Mealtimes, bedrooms and the car on short trips are good places to start.
- Set a screens-off time. Aim for no screens in the hour before bed as part of a calm bedtime routine, and charge devices outside bedrooms overnight.
- Use “when–then” rules. “When homework and outdoor time are done, then you can have screen time.”
- Give warnings before time is up. A five-minute warning and a timer reduce meltdowns at switch-off.
- Make a family media plan. The AAP offers a free online Family Media Plan tool that helps you agree rules together. Thinking about a first phone? See what age a child should get a phone.
- Use parental controls, but don’t rely on them. They filter content; they don’t replace conversation. Our online safety guide covers the talks that matter most.
Your screen habits count, too
Children copy what they see. If you’re trying to cut your family’s screen time, start by noticing your own. DigitalAA’s phone habits self-check takes a couple of minutes and is surprisingly revealing.
Signs screen time is becoming a problem
- Meltdowns or aggression when screens are switched off (our tantrum guide helps in the moment)
- Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
- Losing interest in friends, play or activities they used to enjoy
- Sneaking devices or lying about use
- Falling behind at school
If you’re seeing several of these, talk to your pediatrician. They can help you work out what’s going on and what to try.
Frequently asked questions
Is educational screen time OK for toddlers?
From about 18 months, small amounts of high-quality educational programming, watched together, can be fine. Toddlers learn far more from real-world play and talking with you.
Does video chatting count as screen time?
The AAP makes an exception for video chatting, even for babies, because it involves real interaction with people.
How much screen time should a 10-year-old have?
There is no single number. Set consistent limits that leave plenty of time for sleep, activity, homework and family, and focus on what they’re watching and doing.
Sources
Every article is edited by a human and checked against our editorial policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
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