Did you notice that your kids remain obsessed with mobile phones? It’s time they started cultivating healthy digital habits. There’s no denying that screens are part of life now. However, excessive screen exposure can be harmful. Check out the healthy screen time for kids that we have discussed.
In this blog, we have summarized the age-wise limits of screen exposure for children. Accordingly, parents must monitor their child behavior online to create the right balance.
Healthy Screen Time For Kids
Parents must understand that not all screen use is the same. Health organizations often recommend good parenting tips, stressing that quality, context and supervision matter significantly as you try to maintain the right digital balance for children.
For infants, the guidance is strict, with no screen exposure recommended whatsoever. For older children, it becomes flexible but bounded with clear screen time guidelines. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have recommended limited sedentary screen use for very young children and co-viewing of educational content where appropriate.
Table Showing Healthy Screen Time for Kids of Different Age Groups
Have a look at the healthy screen time for kids based on information collected from the WHO and medical practitioners.
| Age Group | Screen Time |
| Babies (0-18 months) | None (except video chat) |
| Toddlers (18-24 months) | Less than 1 hour |
| Children (2-5 years) | 0-3 hours |
| Kids & Teens (6-17 years) | 2 hours |
| Teens and Adults (18+ years) | 2-4 hours |
What Should Be Considered Healthy Screen Time for Kids?
As you check out the basic screen time guidelines, you must understand what is considered screen time. The content that kids view on screen can be valuable or harmful. So, as you learn managing screen time for kids, make sure to prioritize educational or interactive content that delivers high value.
On the contrary, unsupervised or low-value content increases negative screen time effects. This can lead to disruptions in sleep or result in short attention spans. Depending on age, all kids and teens must get 8-12 hours of sleep every day. When your kids use mobile phones, set clear boundaries between learning tasks and entertainment.
Educational vs Entertainment Screen Time
Prefer platforms with curriculum-linked content and co-use with a caregiver. Avoid playing the TV in the background during studies and meals.
Online safety & child behavior online
Watch for signs of excessive use. Your child might feel irritated when the devices are removed, experience sleep problems, or withdrawal. This kind of child behavior online needs serious attention.
How Schools Help Create Digital Balance and Support Healthy Screen Time for Kids
Good schools include structured digital lessons that teach children how to use devices for useful purposes. These sessions include hands-on activities, with clear screen time guidelines integrated in their routines.
Even in classes, computers and digital devices are used under the supervision of experienced teachers. These arrangements go a long way in adding educational value. Schools also run programs that teach digital balance for children. Students get to learn how to switch between online and offline tasks while managing attention.
Conclusion
As a concerned parent, you would like to set a healthy screen time for kids. With the right digital exposure, children can imbibe crucial lessons at an early age while remaining safe from the adverse effects of excessive mobile exposure.
Reputed ICSE schools prioritize this balanced approach and help kids inculcate healthy digital habits from an early age. This ensures that young learners learn what to learn digitally while imbibing other lessons from their textbooks.
