In this time of endless entertainment options for children, it’s hard to know what is best when it comes to screen time. Add to that the feelings of guilt and doubt that arise when parents consider their use of screens in their child’s life, and it quickly becomes a charged topic for most families.
As a pediatrician, this is one of the many concerns I help families navigate as they journey through parenting. Is screen time safe, and if so, how much should parents allow? The short of it: It’s complicated, but screen time clearly poses social and psychological harm to children if left unrestricted. Our understanding of the effects of screen time on early child development has increased rapidly in recent years, but there’s still a lot we don’t know.
While studies on screen time have shown some educational benefits, excessive and early introduction of screens in childhood can lead to a number of problems. Early introduction to screens can take away from more meaningful interactions with caregivers, leading to speech delay.
In older children, studies have linked excessive screen time to poor executive function (the ability to plan and solve problems) and to poor academic performance. Screen time also takes time away from children being active, affecting their physical health over time.
There are also very real safety considerations as children get older and have more autonomy on screens and more interactive technology.
Games like Roblox and even YouTube can be sources of unsafe content or even allow children to communicate with adults they don’t know. And as children enter their teenage years, increased rates of anxiety, depression and emotional dysregulation have been observed in children who have excessive screen time.
While the data can be discouraging, screens are ubiquitous in 2025’s parenting landscape, and that’s unlikely to change any time soon. Here’s some practical guidelines broken down by age to set reasonable screen limits for your family.
For infants and young toddlers, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends limiting any screen time under the age of 18 months, excluding video calls. This means that this age group should not have any screen time aside from video calls, such as saying hi to grandma and grandpa on Facetime. This may seem incredibly strict to some, but during the first 18 months of life, a child’s brain is rapidly developing and incredibly sensitive, making it vulnerable to the effects of intense stimulation.
As children get older, it’s OK to relax a bit, but pediatricians still don’t recommend screen time for toddlers and pre-kindergartners. When possible, limit screen time to an hour a day or less. When screens are on, choose educational and slow-moving programs, such as Ms. Rachel, Sesame Street, Mister Roger’s Neighborhood, Winnie the Pooh, and Bluey. Always try to watch alongside your child. Try your best to avoid daily screen time, using it rather as a special treat or when a reprieve is desperately needed.
As older kids and teens gain independence, it’s incredibly important to stay engaged and continue to set healthy boundaries. In addition to maintaining limits of less than two hours a day, talk to your child about what to do if they see an inappropriate comment or get a message from a person they don’t know. Agree that parents can check apps periodically to ensure safety. And keep screens out of the bedrooms and off at least an hour before bedtime, when bright screen lights can disrupt the circadian rhythm and make it harder to fall asleep.
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to screen time rules; things will look different for each family. Talk with co-parents about what you want your rules to be, set expectations, and stick to them. The AAP has a helpful tool to create a family media plan at healthychildren.org.
Kids do well with clear and consistent rules that don’t change between caregivers. Ensure appropriate supervision by using parent controls to limit what is available to your children, especially school-aged and teenaged children. And, as with all things in life, practice balance. It’s OK to loosen the rules and have more screen time because you’re traveling or someone is home sick, but go back to your usual limits once things are back to normal. And when in doubt — ask your pediatrician!
Dr. Barbara Christakis was born and raised in South Florida and has returned to care for the community that shaped her. She is a pediatrician at Bluebird Kids Health.
