Screen time by age: what the WHO and pediatricians recommend for under-fives

The recommendations at a glance

"Sedentary screen time" in the WHO guidelines means watching TV or videos and playing computer games while sitting.

What the bodies agree on: before 2, real-world play and talk do the teaching, and video calls with family are fine. From 2 to 5, an hour a day is a ceiling, not a target. The WHO puts it plainly: less is better.

Why the limits are so low

The WHO 2019 guidelines are about the whole day: under-fives need plenty of active play (180 minutes a day from age 1), enough sleep (11 to 14 hours from 1 to 2 years, 10 to 13 hours from 3 to 4), and not too much time sitting or strapped in. Screen time mostly replaces the things that build development: moving, talking, reading together.

The AAP policy statement Media and Young Minds (2016) reviews research on TV, video and mobile apps for children aged 0 to 5. It notes that research is still limited, and puts the emphasis on parents and children using media together and on leaving time for other healthy activities.

The CDC repeats it at every milestone age: babies learn by talking, playing and interacting with people.

Watch together, talk together

If your child is 2 or older and watches something:

1. Sit with them when you can. The CDC's 2-year advice is about an hour of children's programmes with an adult present.
2. Talk about it: "What is the dog doing? What colour is the bus?"
3. Bring it into real life: spot the colours or animals from the show on your next walk.
4. Choose slow, simple programmes made for young children, without ads.
5. Turn it off when it ends, rather than letting the next episode auto-play.

A family media plan in 6 rules

The AAP and the CDC both suggest a family media plan. A simple version for under-fives:

• Screen-free zones: bedrooms (the CDC advises keeping TVs out of your child's bedroom) and the meal table.
• Screen-free times: meals, the hour before bed, car journeys when possible.
• A clear daily budget from age 2, written down so it is not renegotiated every day.
• Adults too: put your own phone away during meals and play; children copy what they see.
• Other ways to calm down first: a cuddle, a song or a quiet corner, so screens do not become the only way your child knows to settle.
• Same rules everywhere: the CDC suggests asking your childcare provider whether they limit TV and screen time.

Screens and sleep

Keeping the last hour before bed screen-free, and screens out of the bedroom as the CDC advises, makes room for a calm wind-down: bath, book, cuddle, lights out. Our guide to toddler sleep has the full routine.

What to do instead

Bored is fine. When you need ten minutes to cook or shower, try:

• a basket of pots, lids and wooden spoons;
• stickers and paper, crayons and a big sheet taped to the floor;
• a pile of board books or audio stories;
• helping you: washing vegetables, sorting socks, carrying napkins to the table;
• outdoor time whenever possible.

More age-matched ideas in toddler activities by age.

When to talk to a professional

Talk to your pediatrician or health visitor if screens have become a daily battle, if your child seems unable to play without them, or if you notice delays in speech or social interaction. Do not wait: the CDC advises acting early on any developmental concern.

Questions parents ask

Sources

1. WHO — To grow up healthy, children need to sit less and play more (2019 guidelines for children under 5) checked October 13, 2026
2. CDC — Positive parenting tips, toddlers (1-2 years) checked October 13, 2026
3. CDC — Positive parenting tips, toddlers (2-3 years) checked October 13, 2026
4. CDC — Important milestones, your child by two years checked October 13, 2026
5. AAP Council on Communications and Media. Media and Young Minds. Pediatrics, 2016 (policy statement) checked October 13, 2026

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