Children between the ages of 2 and 5 years old should be getting no more than one hour of screen time per day, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The nation's largest group of pediatricians on Friday released new guidelines to help families ensure their kids aren't spending too much time in front of the TV or with their face buried in a tablet. The AAP released two separate policies—one for infants, toddlers, and pre-school children and another for kids ages 5 to 18.
"Families should proactively think about their children's media use and talk with children about it, because too much media use can mean that children don't have enough time during the day to play, study, talk, or sleep," lead author of the Media and Young Minds policy statement Jenny Radesky, MD, FAAP, said in a statement. "What's most important is that parents be their child's 'media mentor.' That means teaching them how to use it as a tool to create, connect and learn."
The organization recommends that children younger than 18 months should be made to avoid media altogether, with the exception of video chats. After 18 months, parents can start introducing their child to digital media, starting with high-quality programming, but should watch it with their little one to help them understand what they're seeing. AAP also recommends co-viewing for children ages 2 through 5.
Children ages six and older should have consistent limits on the time they can spend using media, and the type they're allowed to consume. The AAP acknowledged that there's no "one size fits all" approach to this, but said parents should ensure media use is not cutting into their child's sleep or physical activity.
Alongside the recommendations, the AAP has released an online Family Media Use Plan tool to help parents determine healthy media guidelines for their children. The tool lets you enter the ages of your children, and then creates a customized plan for your family.