Screen Time for Children: What the WHO Recommends, and a Simple Family Plan
The WHO says babies should have no screen time and toddlers no more than an hour a day. For older children, the NHS focuses on at least 60 minutes of activity daily. Here is how to make it work at home.
Walk into almost any Indian home today and you will see it: a toddler watching videos during a meal, a child with a phone in the car, a teenager with a tablet late at night. Screens are part of family life. The question parents ask is simple. How much is too much?
Quick answer
- The World Health Organization (WHO) says babies under 1 should have no screen time, and 1-year-olds no sedentary screen time.
- For ages 2 to 4, the WHO says no more than one hour a day, and less is better.
- For ages 5 to 18, the NHS says children need at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous activity a day, and should sit less.
- What replaces the screen matters as much as the screen: play, sleep and talking with you.
What does the WHO say about children under five?
In 2019, the WHO published guidelines for children under five. They cover physical activity, sitting, and sleep together, because they all affect each other. For screen time, the WHO says:
- Under 1 year: no screen time.
- 1 year: no sedentary screen time.
- 2 years: no more than one hour a day. Less is better.
- 3 to 4 years: no more than one hour a day. Less is better.
The WHO means "sedentary" screen time, such as watching TV or videos, or playing games while sitting still. It says that when children are sitting, reading and storytelling with a caregiver is encouraged. It also advises against keeping children strapped in a pram, a high chair or a carrier for more than an hour at a time.
How much sleep and play do small children need?
The WHO's guide for sleep, including naps, is:
- 0 to 3 months: 14 to 17 hours
- 4 to 11 months: 12 to 16 hours
- 1 to 2 years: 11 to 14 hours
- 3 to 4 years: 10 to 13 hours
For activity, babies who cannot yet move around should have at least 30 minutes of tummy time a day while awake. Children aged 1 to 4 should have at least 180 minutes of activity of any intensity spread across the day. For 3- and 4-year-olds, at least 60 of those minutes should be moderate to vigorous, such as running and jumping.
The WHO explains why this matters: the early years are a time of fast growth, and habits formed then tend to last. Activity, less sitting and good sleep support the body and the brain, and may help prevent childhood obesity. The WHO's expert on childhood obesity, Dr Juana Willumsen, said the world needs to "bring back play for children".
What about older children?
The sources we checked give no screen-hour limit for children aged 5 and over. What the NHS does say about ages 5 to 18 is this:
- Aim for an average of 60 minutes or more a day of moderate or vigorous activity across the week.
- Do two types of activity each week: aerobic activity, plus muscle and bone strengthening, such as jumping, football, gymnastics or martial arts.
- Reduce the time spent sitting or lying down, and break up long periods of sitting with some movement.
So for older children, the practical rule is to protect activity, sleep and homework time first, and to keep screens from pushing them out.
A simple family plan
- Make mealtimes screen-free for everyone, including adults.
- Set a "screens off" time at least 30 minutes before bed. Our sleep routine guide explains why.
- Keep devices out of the bedroom at night.
- Plan an outdoor hour. A park, a terrace, a lane or a ground works. Walk to school if it is safe.
- Watch together when you can, and talk about what you see.
- Read aloud. The WHO encourages reading and storytelling.
- Lead by example. Children copy what they see. If you scroll all evening, it is hard to ask them not to.
Protect their eyes too
Long screen sessions can tire children's eyes as well. Teach them the 20-20-20 rule from our guide to eye strain and screen breaks, and make sure they take breaks to look into the distance.
When to ask for advice
If your child is very upset when screens are taken away, is not sleeping well, is falling behind at school, or seems less interested in friends and play, talk to your paediatrician or school counsellor. Every child is different.
This article is general information, not medical advice.
Related reading
Sources
This article draws on the following reporting. Dates are when each source was originally published.
- World Health Organization: To grow up healthy, children need to sit less and play more ·
- NHS: Physical activity guidelines for children and young people
Written by
Stories, explainers and features published by The Daily, based on public sources that are listed with every article.
More from The Daily →Enjoyed this story?
Get the best of The Daily in your inbox every Sunday.
