Common questions answered
How Much Screen Time Should I Allow?
Health professionals recommend no screen time before age 2, followed by gradual, age-appropriate exposure alongside plenty of alternative, non-screen activities.
Recommended Screen Time by Age
Birth to 24 months
No screen time, except for video chatting with a caregiver.
2 to 5 years
Up to 30 minutes per day of high-quality, age-appropriate content.
No screens at least 2 hours before bedtime.
6 to 10 years
Up to 1–2 hours per day.
No screens at least 1 hour before bedtime.
11 to 17 years
Up to 2–3 hours per day.
No screens at least 1 hour before bedtime.
View Health Professionals for Safer Screens Infographic here.
2. How to discuss smartphone as a family
We encourage you to ask powerful questions of your children. Don’t just tell them what to do - many children already know the answer or have experienced the negative impact of screens. Instead, guide them toward making their own choice by facilitating thoughtful conversations that help them decide they don’t want a phone.
How do we, as a family, want to communicate?
What do we value most about our family time?
What do we like and not like about our family’s use of technology?
Why do you want a smartphone?
What are the benefits and harms of social media?
What are our “big no’s” regarding technology, and why are they important?
What compromises can we all agree to?
What should the consequences be if boundaries are pushed?
How much screen time is appropriate on school days and weekends?
Or your can create a family media contract using the resources here.
3. How to Navigate Sleepovers and Playdates
Sleepovers and playdates can introduce extra challenges, as the rules you set at home may not always apply elsewhere. The key is to maintain a strong relationship with your child and empower them to make responsible choices when they are away from home.
Use the guide here for advice on:
Talking to other parents about rules and expectations
Preparing your child for challenging scenarios
Managing smartphone use during sleepovers and playdates
4. My Older Sibling Has a Phone – Do I Need to Give One to My Younger Child?
It’s natural to wonder if younger children should have the same devices as their older siblings. With the growing understanding of the potential harms of smartphones, it’s okay to do things differently for each child. By reframing the device as age-appropriate rather than a reward or entitlement, parents can make decisions that prioritize health, wellbeing, and safety for each child individually.
Giving a smartphone to an older child doesn’t mean younger children need one at the same age.
Think of the device as more suitable for adults or older teens; smartphones can have negative effects on younger children’s development.
You wouldn’t make your younger child eat something that made your older child sick. Similarly, the decision to delay a smartphone is about protecting your child, not creating inequality.