World Health Organization Recommends Severely Limiting Young Children's Screen Time

In a new set of guidelines, the World Health Organization said that infants under 1 year old should not be exposed to electronic screens and that children between the ages of 2 and 4 should not have more than one hour of “sedentary screen time” each day.

1. Should children's screen time be limited?
2. What is the amount of screen time that a young child should be restricted too?
3. What is the recommended screen time for a child?
4. What is recommended screen time?

Should children's screen time be limited?

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers the following guidelines: If your child is under 2: Screen time should be very limited, and children should only use screens when adults are also actively participating in the screen-related activity with them. (For example, a video chat with the entire family.)

What is the amount of screen time that a young child should be restricted too?

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

What is the recommended screen time for a child?

The new warning from the AHA recommends parents limit screen time for kids to a maximum of just two hours per day. For younger children, age 2 to 5, the recommended limit is one hour per day. Research has linked screen time with an increased amount of sedentary behavior in children and teens.

What is recommended screen time?

The American Academy of Pediatrics' Screen Time Guidelines

For years, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended no more than two hours of screen time for children and teenagers, and absolutely no screen time for children under 2.