At this age, the tech children use is often limited to tablets or streaming services. This introduction to screen use means it’s a perfect time to create positive screen time habits that grow with your child.
Explore the guide below for support.
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GET YOUR TOOLKITFirstly, it’s important to remember that not all screen time is created equally. Some apps, shows and content is more developmentally appropriate than others. As well as this, how your child consumes content makes a huge difference. For example, passive watching has fewer benefits than active learning.
Research found that excessive television viewing can negatively affect language development, reading abilities and motor skills at this age. Related guidance from National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) suggests no more than 2 hours of television per day.
Furthermore, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has guidance for under-5s that recommends no more than 1 hour of “sedentary screen time.” This refers to screen time where children sit still. However, their guidance doesn’t mention other types of screen time. Here are their recommendations:
Remember that one size does not fit all when it comes to screen time. Instead, it’s more about getting it right for your families needs.
Tablets are the most popular device for children at this age, where most screen time is spent watching videos.
70% of 3-4-year-olds play video games.
2/3 of parents of 3-4-year-olds said they sit beside their children while they use devices, watching or helping them.
Nearly 1/3 of parents of children at this age say they struggle to control their child’s screen time.
These apps are commonly used among 3-4-year-olds, according to Ofcom:
Unlike parents of older children, parents of under-5s are more likely to supervise their child’s screen time. For this, they are likely to sit beside their child and use the device with them or help them. Half of parents reported this as the main approach to online safety. 21% said their main approach was conversations.
Additionally, 73% of parents said they believed their child had good screen time balance. In fact, research found that children at this age spend more time on average playing with toys and games than they do playing video games.
Remember that balance is key to managing screen time. At this age, screen use should be minimal and purposeful.
It’s important to look out for signs of too much screen time in toddlers, this can include:
Here are 5 ways to help under-5s manage their screen use and time online.
By creating device free zone at meal times and around the home and making use of tools to set limits on when screens can be used, you can improve family interactions and reduce interruptions to children’s bedtime routine.
Experts recommend switching off screens at least an hour before bedtime to give young children time to wind down.
As young children take their first digital footsteps, play, watch and discover together to stay engaged in what they are doing and create spaces to talk about what they enjoy and how to stay safe.
This will help them feel more confident in coming to you if they get stuck or see something that makes them feel uncomfortable. It’s also important to stay calm and not overreact when children tell you what has gone wrong.
Together find age-appropriate apps, websites and games that will give your child a way to explore their passions, enhance their skills while building their confidence in navigating the online world.
Be sure to make use of free tech tools on the apps and devices they use to create a safer space for them to explore online.
Tools like Apple’s Screen time and Google’s Digital Wellbeing dashboard can give you an overview of what they are spending their time on which you can use as a starting point to talk about ways to improve their screen use and protect their digital wellbeing.
Children will tend to model their behaviour on you, so if you encourage them to take breaks when on screen or leave phones out of the bedroom at night, they will follow your lead.
See related advice and practical tips to support children online:
