How much screen time is right for my child?
What health experts suggest at each age, how school days and weekends can differ, and how to set a different limit for each day.
What the experts suggest at each age
For young children, health groups give a number. For babies, they suggest little or no screen time. For ages 2 to 5, they suggest about 1 hour a day or less. For older kids and teens, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) no longer gives a set number of minutes. It asks families to look at what screens push out of the day.
| Age | What the guidance suggests |
|---|---|
| Under 1 year | The World Health Organization (WHO) says screen time is not recommended. The AAP says babies under 18 months learn best from real people and real play. It says video calls with family can help. |
| 1 year | The WHO says sitting in front of a screen, like watching TV or videos, is not recommended. |
| 18 months to 2 years | If you start, the AAP suggests shows made to teach, watched together. It says children learn more when a parent joins in. |
| 2 to 5 years | The WHO suggests no more than 1 hour a day for ages 2 to 4, and says less is better. The AAP has long suggested about 1 hour a day for ages 18 months to 5. |
| 6 to 12 years | The AAP doesn’t set a number. It links unhealthy screen use with poorer sleep, school work and attention, less exercise, and less time with friends and family. |
| 13 to 18 years | The AAP says effects vary. It points to sleep loss and apps built to keep teens scrolling as the main worries. |
Sources: the WHO guidelines for children under 5 (2019), the AAP’s Helping Kids Thrive in a Digital World (updated June 2026), screen time questions for infants and why to avoid TV for infants and toddlers, all on HealthyChildren.org.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Your child’s doctor knows your child best, so ask them if you’re unsure what fits your family.
Why the newest advice talks less about minutes
In January 2026 the AAP shared new media recommendations. In its guide for parents, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests families “move beyond simple screen-time limits and focus on quality, context and conversation.”
In plain words, ask three questions:
- What is my child doing? A video call with grandma is not the same as an hour of short videos.
- What does it push out? The AAP says the goal is to make room for sleep, exercise, reading, play, homework and family.
- Where and when? The AAP suggests screen-free bedrooms and mealtimes, especially in the hour before bed.
A daily limit still helps many families. It’s one simple number everyone understands. It also protects the things the AAP cares about, like sleep and family time. The AAP’s free Family Media Plan can help you choose your family’s rules.
School days vs weekends
Many families give less screen time on school days and a little more on weekends. School days fill up fast with class, homework, activities and dinner. Weekends often have more free time.
- Start with today. Watch how much your child uses now. Then pick a limit a little lower, not a big cut on day one.
- Keep bedtime steady. For young children, the WHO suggests regular sleep and wake-up times. A later weekend limit doesn’t have to mean a later bedtime.
- Plan the special days. A long car ride or a sick day can have its own rule. Decide ahead, so it isn’t a fight in the moment.
- Check after a week. If every day ends in an argument, the limit may be too tight or too loose. Adjust it.
How to set different limits per day in SteadyBounds
SteadyBounds is a parental control app for iPhone and iPad where kids earn extra screen time through learning lessons and chores their parents approve. You can set one limit for school days, another for weekends, or a different limit for each day of the week.
- Open SteadyBounds on your phone. On Home, tap your child’s card to open their Controls page.
- Under Daily screen time, set School days (Monday to Thursday) and Weekends (Friday to Sunday).
- Need a different time on one day, like a busy Wednesday? Turn on Customize each day, then set each day.
- Tap Save changes. You see “Applied” once your child’s device confirms the change.
Good to know:
- Your child gets one daily allowance shared by all of their iPhones and iPads, not one for each device.
- Every app counts toward the daily limit. You can choose apps that stay open when time is up, like school apps. Their minutes still count.
- Kids can earn extra time by finishing lessons and chores you approve, up to a daily cap you choose.
- Unused time starts fresh each day. To save earned minutes for another day, use Time Bank.
- Every Screen Time control is free, including daily limits for every child and device.
SteadyBounds is free to download on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
Common questions
Is 2 hours a day too much for a 10-year-old?
The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t set an exact number for school-age kids. It suggests making sure screens don’t push out sleep, exercise, reading, play, homework and family time. If you’re unsure, ask your child’s doctor.
Do school apps count toward the limit in SteadyBounds?
Yes. Every app counts toward the daily limit. You can choose apps that stay open when other apps lock, like school apps. Their minutes still count toward the daily limit.
Can I give more screen time on weekends in SteadyBounds?
Yes. On your child’s Controls page, set School days and Weekends separately under Daily screen time. To set each day of the week, turn on Customize each day. Every Screen Time control is free.
Set a limit that fits your child’s age.
SteadyBounds is a parental control app for iPhone and iPad where kids earn extra screen time through learning lessons and chores their parents approve. Every Screen Time control is free.