Screen Time
Smart Phones and Tablets
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages parents to help their children develop healthy media use habits early on. George Skarpathiotis MD, SC recommends no screen time for children under the age of two years.
For children above the age of 2 years, we recommend parents to limit media use. Limit screen use to no more than 1 hour or less per day during school days, and less than 2 hours per day on weekends. Co-view or co-play with your children, and find other activities for to do together that are healthy for the body and mind (e.g., reading, teaching, talking, and playing together).
All children and teens need adequate sleep (8-12 hours, depending on age), physical activity (1 hour), and time away from media. Designate media-free times together (e.g., family dinner) and media-free zones (e.g., bedrooms). Children should not sleep with devices in their bedrooms, including TVs, computers, and smartphones.