How Much Screen Time Is Too Much for Kids?
Australia has national guidance on recreational screen time for children, and the right amount for your child also depends on sleep, activity and what they are doing on the screen. Here is what the official guidance says and how to apply it.
What the Australian guidelines say
Under 2: sedentary screen time is not recommended (a shared video call with family is a common exception). For 5 to 17, schoolwork and learning are not counted. These come from the Australian Government's 24-hour movement guidelines, which also recommend daily physical activity and enough sleep. Read the original sources: health.gov.au fact sheet for 5 to 17 years, and a state summary for younger children on Healthy WA. Check the current guidance before relying on these figures, because they can be updated.
It isn't only the number of hours
What
A video call with grandparents or a creative app is different from endless short videos.
When
Screens close to bedtime can cut into sleep. A common household rule is a phone-free hour before bed and phones charging outside bedrooms.
With whom
Watching or playing together is better than watching alone.
Instead of what
Check that screens aren’t replacing sleep, exercise or time with family.
A practical way to set limits
Start from the guideline for your child’s age
Use it as a starting point, not a pass or fail test.
Separate schoolwork from recreation
Only recreation counts toward the limit.
Set the limit and bedtime in settings
Agree the plan with your child
Put it in writing, especially with older children.
Review every few months
Limits should grow with your child.
When limits are being broken
Stay calm and ask what's happening. Children often push limits because friends are online at that time. Offer a trade, such as a later finish at weekends, rather than a surprise ban.
Frequently asked questions
How much screen time is too much for a 10-year-old?
The Australian guideline for ages 5 to 17 is no more than 2 hours a day of sedentary recreational screen time. Schoolwork is not counted in that limit.
Do schoolwork screens count?
No. The 5 to 17 guideline refers to recreational screen time. Learning on a screen is treated separately.
What about babies and toddlers?
The guidance says sedentary screen time is not recommended under 2 years, and no more than 1 hour a day for ages 2 to 5, with less being better. Check the current guidance on health.gov.au.
Source: figures summarised from the Australian Government Department of Health 24-hour movement guidelines (health.gov.au). Paraphrased in our own words.
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