How Much Is Too Much? Calculating Your Child’s Screen Time

Screen time is one of the hottest topics in parenting right now, and it makes sense. We’re surrounded by technology in every aspect of our lives, from our parenting resources to e-books to entertainment and communicating with our friends. Our children are no different.

The main question is how much screen time is “good” for your child, and there’s no easy answer. While the AACAP publishes recommendations, what works for your family depends on how much time you spend with your child in general.

Screens Are Competing For Our Attention 

When children grow up, many things can distract them from building a relationship with their parents. Research shows that the two biggest ones are peers and technology – and screen time is quickly becoming more common. Unfortunately, if screens take over the time you would otherwise spend with your kids, it could negatively impact your relationship.

So, when deciding how long you want your kids to spend on screens, consider that anything that competes with you for your child’s attention should be regulated. Because ultimately, we want our children to trust and have a better relationship with us than anything that they find elsewhere

By focusing on our connection to our children first, we’ll be more influential than the voice on the screen. The only way we do that is through spending time together. 

Recommended Screen Time By Age

With that in mind, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has published recommended guidelines for how long your child should spend on a screen. These recommendations are a great starting point to deciding how your family should calculate screen time.

Until 18 months of age, limit screen use to video chat along with an adult (for example, with a parent who is out of town).

Between 18 and 24 months, screen time should be limited to watching educational programming with a caregiver.

For children 2-5, limit non-educational screen time to about 1 hour per weekday and 3 hours on weekend days.

For ages 6 and older, encourage healthy habits and limit activities that include screens.

Some general rules for reducing screen time are:

• Turn off all screens during family meals and outings.
• Learn about and use parental controls.
• Avoid using screens as pacifiers, babysitters or to stop tantrums.
• Turn off screens and remove them from bedrooms 30-60 minutes before bedtime.

Calculating What Works For Your Family

Screentime is ultimately not about how long your child spends but how it affects their time to make healthy relationships outside the screen. The problem with giving one screentime number is that it overlooks the importance of quality time with you and doesn’t take into account your family values and lifestyle. 

I recommend spending at least twice as much time with your little ones as they spend on electronics. This quality time can be spent with connection-building activities that fit into your everyday life. 

Finding a happy medium with busy schedules and different ages of kids is well worth it. If you’re looking for more ideas to connect as a family, download my free activity calendar here.