Screen time for kids: how many hours by age
Updated:
In short: the World Health Organization recommends no screen time for children under 2, and no more than 1 hour a day for children aged 2 to 4, with less being better. From about 6 there's no single number. What matters is that screens don't push out sleep, exercise, school and family time.
Recommendations by age
| Age | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| 0–18 months | No screens, except video calls with family. |
| 18 months – 2 years | If you use screens, only high-quality content and only together with a parent. |
| 2–5 years | No more than 1 hour a day of high-quality content, ideally watched together. |
| 6–12 years | Consistent limits agreed in advance. Sleep, sport and homework come first. |
| 13+ years | A family media plan and more independence; phones out of the bedroom at night. |
Sources: WHO guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 (2019); American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Family Media Plan.
Signs of phone addiction
- your child gets angry or cries when you take the phone away;
- sleep gets worse: they fall asleep late or use the phone at night;
- they lose interest in play, friends or hobbies they used to love;
- school work slips and homework doesn't get done because of the screen.
If these signs are frequent, talk to your paediatrician or a child psychologist.
5 rules that work
- Agree together: write down family rules on when, how long and which apps.
- No phones in the bedroom: charge phones outside the room at night.
- Screen-free zones: meals and short car trips without screens.
- Set an example: children copy their parents' habits.
- Use the tools: limits and schedules on the phone mean fewer arguments, because the app enforces the rule, not the parent.
How to set a limit on the phone
On Android there's Google Family Link, on iPhone Screen Time: how to set up parental controls. With Heri Prime Plus you see which apps take up your child's day and set daily limits, study and bedtime schedules and app blocking (on the child's Android phone). Parental controls in Heri.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours a day can a child spend on a phone?
For children aged 2 to 5 the recommendation is no more than 1 hour a day. From 6 there's no exact number: many families choose 1–2 hours of entertainment on school days, besides homework, as long as the child still gets enough sleep (9–12 hours) and exercise (1 hour a day).
Are screens bad before bed?
Yes, screens before bed delay falling asleep. The advice is to switch screens off about an hour before sleep and keep the phone out of the bedroom at night.
Is it better to ban the phone or limit it?
A total ban often leads to secret use. Clear limits, schedules and rules agreed together, which change as your child grows, work better.