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Parenting and child development

Screen time

The time a child spends using screens such as TVs, tablets, phones, computers and game consoles, counted across a day or a week.

What It Means

Screen timeParental controlsSettings and tools that let a parent limit what a child can see, download, buy and who they can contact on a device or app, and for how long. See more is the time a child spends watching, playing or scrolling on a screen: TV, tablets, phones, computers and game consoles. CDC's parenting tips and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) statements of 2016 gave guidance by age. In February 2026 the AAP replaced its 2016 media statements with "Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents," which asks families to look past the minutes to the quality of what children use, the setting, and the conversations around it.

Try It: Add Up a Day of Screen Time

Enter a typical day for one child. Video chat with family isn't counted here.

Minutes a day80
Hours a week9.3

Over the 1 hour a day of quality programming that CDC lists for ages 2 to 5.

How Parents Say It

  • "Five more minutes, then the tablet goes away."
  • "He's had way too much screen time today."
  • "We only do shows on weekends."

The Breakdown

Worked example. A 4-year-old's typical weekday:

ScreenMinutes
Shows and videos45
Video games20
Apps15
Total80 minutes a day, about 9.3 hours a week

What the number means, by age

AgeGuidanceSource
Under 18 monthsNo screen media except video chatAAP, "Media and Young Minds" (2016)
18 to 24 monthsIf you add media, choose quality programming and watch togetherAAP, "Media and Young Minds" (2016)
2 to 5 yearsNo more than 1 hour a day of quality programmingCDC Positive Parenting TipsPositive parentingRaising children through warmth, attention, praise for good behavior and teaching, with discipline that avoids harsh punishment. The CDC publishes age-by-age tips. See more
Every ageA Family Media PlanFamily media planA written set of family rules about screens and media, such as screen-free times and places, that each household makes to fit its own routines and values. See more, screen-free times and zones, quality content, watching togetherCo-viewingWatching TV, videos or apps together with your child and talking about what you see, rather than handing over a screen to watch alone. See moreAAP, 2026 policy explained

At 80 minutes, the example child is 20 minutes over CDC's hour for ages 2 to 5. The AAP's 2026 policy would also ask what those minutes are: a show watched together and talked about is a different 45 minutes from autoplay running in the background.

When to talk to the doctor. If screens are crowding out your child's sleep, play, school or moods, bring it up with your pediatrician, who can help you shape a family media plan.

Good to Know

The AAP's Q&A on screens for infants says children under 2 learn best by exploring and playing with people, that a TV left on in the background has been linked with lower language skillsLanguage developmentHow a child learns to understand and use sounds, gestures and words, from early squeals to first words, two-word phrases and short stories. See more, and that watching educational content together has been linked with better ones. Its 2026 advice for families includes a shared family tablet rather than one each, phones down at meals and bedtime for the adults too, and screen-free bedrooms and mealtimes, especially in the hour before bed.

FAQ

How much screen time is OK for a toddler?

CDC lists no more than 1 hour a day of quality programming for ages 2 to 5. The AAP's 2016 statement advised no screens except video chat under 18 months, and quality programming watched together from 18 to 24 months.

Did the AAP drop its screen time limits?

In February 2026 the AAP replaced its 2016 media statements with "Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents," which moves beyond simple time limits to the quality of content, the context and family conversation. Talk to your pediatrician about what fits your child.

Does video chat count as screen time?

The AAP's 2016 statement made an exception for video chat, even under 18 months. The AAP's infant Q&A suggests an adult sit in and explain who is on the screen and what they're saying.

Do It in Buhata

Reminders

Set a daily Reminder in Buhata at the time screens go off in your house, so the nudge arrives on your phone at the same time each day.

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Related Terms and Categories

  • Screen-free time

    Set times or places in a family's day, like meals, bedrooms or the hour before bed, when phones, TVs, tablets and games stay off.

  • Co-viewing

    Watching TV, videos or apps together with your child and talking about what you see, rather than handing over a screen to watch alone.

  • Parental controls

    Settings and tools that let a parent limit what a child can see, download, buy and who they can contact on a device or app, and for how long.

  • Digital detox

    A set period when you stop using, or deliberately cut back on, smartphones, computers and other digital devices, usually to rest and lower stress.

Parenting and child development

Sources

American Academy of Pediatrics, "Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents: Policy Statement" (Pediatrics, February 2026); AAP News, "Beyond screen time: Policy discusses how to approach immersive digital ecosystem"; HealthyChildren.org (AAP), "Helping Kids Thrive in a Digital World: AAP Policy Explained"; American Academy of Pediatrics, Q&A Portal, "Screen Time for Infants"; CDC, "Positive Parenting Tips: Toddlers (2 to 3 years old)"; American Academy of Pediatrics, "Media and Young Minds" (Pediatrics, 2016)

Last updated .