As screens become a bigger part of young children’s lives at home and at school, it’s important to put balance and purpose behind screen time.
In this guide, learn how to help your child develop key skills and benefit most from their screen use.
Receive personalised resources and advice to support your family.
GET YOUR TOOLKITAs children start primary school, they will learn new ways of using tech. Like children under 5, Ofcom research found that children at this age use tablets most. However, unlike children in early years, those starting primary school make more use of consoles and computers. Additionally, children at this age make more use of their devices for gaming. This is especially true for console use; 22% of children aged 3-4 use consoles for gaming compared to 59% of 5-7-year-olds.
When it comes to official guidance, there isn’t any. However, according to the NHS, children “should have no more than 2 hours of screen time each day.” Children at this age also need at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, so taking a break from screens can help them get moving. Additionally, using that screen time to get active can help them learn balance. See our guide to active apps here or wellbeing apps here.
According to Ofcom, 93% of 5-7s watch videos online.
Our tracker survey found that 66% of children aged 6-10 use tablets, second highest after smart TVs.
Our tracker survey revealed 40% of children aged 6-10 spend 1-2 hours on devices on a weekday, which is within the recommended limits. During the weekend, a similar number spend 3-4 hours each day on devices.
According to Ofcom, 34% of 5-7-year-olds play video games online. In total, 89% play video games (either offline or online).
The most popular apps for children starting primary school, according to parent responses on our tracker survey, are:
Similarly, research from Ofcom named YouTube as most popular among 5-7s (89%). Additionally, they were more likely to use YouTube Kids than the regular app or site.
At this age, parents’ approach to screen time is about giving kids space. For 3-4s, parents were more likely (65%) to sit with their child as they used a device. However, less than half (45%) of parents in this age group did the same. This reflects the growing independence of children at this age when it comes to tech use.
Still, 75% say they are nearby and check-in regularly as their child uses their device, according to Ofcom. 72% of parents also said their child has good screen time balance. However, a third do find it hard to control screen time of 5-7-year-olds.
The following are potential signs of poor screen time balance in 5-7-year-olds.
Remember that children’s behaviour can mean many things, so it’s important to speak with your GP about any concerns. For additional support to help children balance screen time, explore this screen time guide.
Here are 5 ways to help young children manage their screen use and time online.
Get engaged and stay engaged in their digital life as they grow. The more you get involved and understand the things your children do online, the easier it is to gain their respect and influence what they do in their digital world.
Also, making screens part of family time, like a movie or an online games night is one way to make more inclusive and engaging.
Take the time to help your child understand the risks and benefits of using the internet, whether it be discussing what steps to take if they see something that upsets them or guiding them towards apps and platforms that will help them explore their passions and enhance their skills.
Children will tend to model their behaviour on you, so if you encourage them to take breaks when on screens or leave phones out of the bedroom at night, they will follow your lead.
Whatever device your child uses, be sure to make use of free and premium tools available to manage their access to age-appropriate content and review the time they spend on specific online activities.
You can view our guide to parental controls here.
See related advice and practical tips to support children online:
