Report: Screen use by children aged under five, Early Years Screen Time Advisory Group, UK Government
What is the main advice?
- Avoid screen time for the under-2s other than for shared activities that encourage bonding, interaction and conversation.
- Try to keep screen time for 2- to 5-year-olds to no more than one hour a day. Avoid at mealtimes and in the hour before bed.
- Choose slow-paced, age-appropriate content. Fast-paced, social media-style videos and AI toys or tools should be avoided for young children.
- Watching or using screens together – talking, asking questions and engaging with the content – is better for children’s development than solo screen use.
EXPERT THOUGHT
Professor Sam Wass, director of the Institute for the Science of Early Years, University of East London
‘Young brains process sights and sounds very differently from adults, and early experiences can have lasting effects on attention, learning and emotional wellbeing. Guidance such as this helps families make informed choices… This is an area in which our understanding is changing fast, and where small changes can make a big difference.’
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