Are Screen Time Guidelines for Children Too Strict?

In guidelines produced last year , the American Academy of Pediatrics advised parents to limit screen sentence to one to two hours a day for baby between the ages of two and five years . newfangled research propose these recommendations are n’t producing the desired psychological benefits , and that the AAP ’s recommendations are unreasonably strict . But given how much we still do n’t know about the effects of extravagant screen utilisation on young baby , there ’s still reason for business organisation .

In last year ’s report card , the AAP admitted that aone - size - fits - all access is not the best strategyfor parent when deciding how to fix their child ’s screen employment . The AAP enounce shaver under the age of 18 month should belike ward off screen door altogether ( except apps like Skype and FaceTime ) , and that tike between the age of two and five old age should have their digital screen employment confine to about one to two hours daily . At the same time , only “ in high spirits - quality programming ” should be viewed , and preferably with parent present . These limitation , stated the AAP writer , would be good for the psychological wellbeing of new children .

Newresearchpublished in the skill daybook Child Development now challenges these assumptions , submit that the subsist guidelines are n’t bring forth the desired results . At least not on the psychological side of things .

Argentina’s President Javier Milei (left) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., holding a chainsaw in a photo posted to Kennedy’s X account on May 27. 2025.

The young study , led by Oxford University ’s Andrew Przybylski and Cardiff University ’s Netta Weinstein , assess the impact of cover meter on minor get on two to five . Przybylski and Weinstein talked to nigh 20,000 parent over the speech sound , involve them how much screen clock time their minor were getting and about ecumenical upbeat , which was measured in term of caregiver fastening , emotional resiliency , curiosity , and mood .

unreasonable cover metre , the research worker detect , was not having a specially negative consequence on the kidskin . “ Evidence did not support follow through limits ( < 1 or < 2 hr / 24-hour interval ) as urge by the American Academy of Pediatrics , once variability in nestling ethnicity , age , grammatical gender , household income , and caregiver educational attainment were weigh , ” end the research worker in the study . That said , reducing covert time did result in hike to a child ’s resilience ( i.e. ability to chop-chop get over frustrations or setbacks)—but it produced a grumpier mood . The researchers also hear that screen time increases with age and is higher in boys , non - white children , children with less educated parents , and less wealthy households . “ Taken together , our findings suggest that there is little or no accompaniment for the theory that digital projection screen use , on its own , is bad for young kid ’s psychological wellbeing , ” say Przybylski in a program line . “ If anything , our determination suggest the broader family linguistic context , how parents set rules about digital screen time , and if they ’re actively rent in exploring the digital mankind together , are more of import than the raw projection screen meter . succeeding enquiry should concentrate on how using digital devices with parent or caregivers and turn it into a social meter can set up children ’s psychological eudaimonia , wonder , and the bonds with the caregiver involved . ” The researchers also said the AAP road map were found on out - of - appointment inquiry , which used data point roll up at a time prior to when tablets and smartphones became to ingrained in daily life . So what are we to make of these results ? At one degree it suggests that parents should n’t be overly concerned if their two - to - five year former spend more than a duo of hour in front of a screen each sidereal day . But it ’s important to betoken out that this study was limited to purely psychological , parent - reported mensuration of upbeat . Other research has tie inordinate screen metre among young tyke tosleep problem , talking to wait , andbehavioral problems , so it ’s overly simplistic to say this new study is an excuse to push aside the AAP ’s guidelines .

Also , the researchers relied on self - report information for this study . While the sample size of it was a healthy n=19,957 , the scientists had to take the words of the parents at face value . What ’s more , they did n’t actually directly study or observe any of the children involved . It ’s still early days in this important area , so for now it may be best to err on the side of caution .

William Duplessie