Screen Time by Age: What's Normal for 2-12 Year Olds

There is no magic number. But there are research-backed guidelines and a way to think about screen time that makes sense for real family life.

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Guidelines by Age

Up to 1 hour of high-quality content, watched together.

Choose interactive content. Always watch together.

Around 1 hour of intentional content.

Use natural stopping points. Offer a transition activity.

1-2 hours outside schoolwork with clear limits.

Create a family screen time agreement together.

1-2 hours, managing what they watch, not just how long.

Have open conversations about their favorite content.

2 hours recreational, separate from school. Focus shifts to skills.

Teach them to notice how they feel after different screen time.

Instead of "How many hours?" ask:

Did they sleep well?

Did they move their body?

Did we have a real conversation?

Are they engaged with the world?

Age-appropriate scripts, conversation starters, and offline activities.