The American Academy of Pediatrics offers some advice on children using digital media, from a model “family media use” plan to age-appropriate exposure guidelines.
• Younger than 18 months: Avoid use of screen media other than video chatting.
• Children 18 to 24 months: Limit media to high-quality programming and watch it with them, or play it with them.
• Children 2 to 5 years old: Limit screen use to 1 hour per day of high-quality programs.
• Children 5 and older: Place consistent limits on the time spent using media, and the types of media, and make sure media do not take the place of adequate sleep, physical activity and other behaviors essential to health. Designate media-free times together, such as dinner or driving, as well as media-free locations at home, such as bedrooms. Have ongoing communication about online citizenship and safety, including treating others with respect online and offline.
A suggested media use plan is at healthychildren.org/mediauseplan.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less