How much screen time is too much? A calm guide for parents, by age

Family screen time checklist

• Keep bedrooms and meals screen-free, and charge devices outside bedrooms at night.
• Put screens away well before bedtime.
• Protect daily active play, outdoor time and reading first.
• For ages 2 to 5, keep fun screen time to about an hour a day or less.
• Choose games and shows with a clear purpose, no ads and natural endings.
• Turn off autoplay and use playlists instead of endless feeds.
• Watch or play together sometimes, and talk about what you see.
• Give a five-minute warning and have the next activity ready.
• Model the habits you want: plan your own phone-free times.
• Revisit your family media plan every few months.

Try this today

1. Fill a screen-free basket. Spend five minutes with your child filling a basket with things to do when screen time ends: a puzzle, crayons, a ball, a library book, a deck of cards. When the timer goes off, the basket comes out.
2. Ten minutes of co-play. Sit with your child and play their favorite game or watch their favorite show. Ask them to teach you how it works, what they like about it, and what they've learned. You'll learn a lot about the content, and they'll love being the expert.
3. Draw your family plan. On one sheet of paper, draw three boxes: When, Where and What's next. Fill them in together and stick the sheet on the fridge. Even young children follow rules better when they helped make them.