Screen time by age: what experts recommend in 2026

Searching for the "right" amount of screen time brings up different numbers from different places. Here is a clear summary of what major health bodies say, and a way to turn it into something that works at home. Guidance is updated from time to time, so check the latest from your own health service.

Under 18 months

The WHO and the AAP both advise avoiding screens, apart from video calls with family. Babies learn from people, touch and play.

18 to 24 months

If you introduce screens, choose high-quality content and watch together. Avoid solo use and avoid screens at meals and before bed.

Ages 2 to 5

Both bodies suggest around one hour a day or less of quality content, ideally together. The WHO suggests less for children under 3.

Ages 6 to 12

There are no fixed minute counts in the AAP's recommendations. Instead they ask parents to set consistent limits and make sure screens do not replace sleep, physical activity, homework, face-to-face time and play. A common practical starting point is a limit on school days and a bigger one on weekends, agreed with the child.

Teens

Focus on sleep, mood, school and real-life friends. Keep phones out of bedrooms overnight, and talk about what they do online rather than just counting minutes.

Turn it into a daily plan

A good plan names the things that come first:

1. Sleep
2. School and homework
3. Movement and outside play
4. Family time and meals
5. Then screens, as the reward that fills what is left

For weekdays, a sample for a 9-year-old might be 45 to 60 minutes of free screen time after homework and play, with extra for learning or creating. Adjust it to your child.

Quality matters as much as quantity

Making, learning or video-calling is different from endless scrolling. See educational screen time.

Make it earned

Instead of handing out minutes, let your child earn them. See earn screen time: a reward system that works, and set the rules together with screen time rules and a family contract.