How much Screen Time is Too Much?

by | May 19, 2025 | For Educators, For Parents, Mental Health | 0 comments

baby watching video in stroller

Quick Access Menu:  Appropriate Screen Time By Age | What Can You Do? | Get a Family Media Plan | Sources

I was walking to a restaurant for dinner after giving a mental health keynote presentation in Norfolk, Virginia, when I noticed a mom pushing a stroller. Curious to catch a glimpse of the little bugger, I glanced over—but not too closely. To my surprise, the child, about 15 months old, was watching a video on a phone mounted in a special holder on the stroller. I was so taken aback, I nearly tripped and fell.

To be clear, I didn’t sneak around and surreptitiously take the above photo. That would be stalkerish. The photo here is stock. And even though it’s a stock photo, I blurred the child’s face because it is a photo of someone’s child.

I understand how a parent needs a break. But I promise you, this isn’t the way. Parenting is hard, and it has always been hard.

However, screen exposure, especially really early, can have serious, long-term consequences. I know that for deaf children or kids on the spectrum, technology and screens can be helpful. But even then, there should be boundaries and limits. For the most part, this article pertains to kids not in those categories.

If you are getting a stroller, please do not buy one equipped with a stand for an iPad or phone so your kid can watch a screen while outside. That way, you won’t be tempted either.

Making the Adjustment from Digital Screen to More Playtime

Early on as a parent, I thought giving my son a screen was genius, kept him quiet and entertained and “learning”… I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong. When he was about five, we took the iPad away and went through what felt like a full-on detox.

It was rough at first, but his attitude shifted, our connection deepened, and now at nine, he’s out the door on his bike with his crew by late morning and doesn’t come home till dinner.

Preston, Father

Unstructured playtime is more valuable for a young child’s developing brain

Kids need to be looking around, interacting with the environment, and with people. It’s so crucial to their development. I didn’t get to interact with the baby in the stroller because she was glued to a screen. I usually just like to wave or engage just for a second. From a distance, of course.

Children younger than age 2 are more likely to learn when they interact and play with parents, siblings, and other children and adults.

Too much screen time and regular exposure to poor-quality programming have been linked to:

  • Less time learning
  • Obesity
  • Inadequate sleep schedules and insufficient sleep
  • Behavior problems
  • Delays in language and social skills development
  • Violence
  • Attention problems

Appropriate Screen Time by Age.

What are the screen time recommendations now that we have the data? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), guidelines are:

  • Younger than 18 months: No screen time, except for video chatting with family and friends
  • 18 to 24 months: Only high-quality educational media with parental engagement
  • Ages 2 to 5 years: No more than one hour a day
  • Age 5 years and older: No more than two hours a day, while engaging in conversation with a parent or family member about what is being viewed
  • Pre-teens and teenagers: Varied effects on mental health, academic achievement, and social skills; importance of balancing screen time with physical activity and healthy habits.

The data for most of us in the mental health space is startling. It really does rewire childhood, and not usually in a good way. A good book to read about how it has done this is Anxious Generation.

Psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, argues that kids between the ages of 9 and 15 are particularly susceptible to the harmful effects of social media.3

What can you do?

First, resist using screens as pacifiers. Not doing so is important for the development of kids, but also of parents. They can learn to self-soothe. And you learn soothing techniques, too.

I do recall how my oldest fell to the floor of a store and started having a tantrum. I also remember that once they are started, you just have to wait until it peters out. I stepped over him to the counter to pay and just said, “Excuse my son’s meltdown. It won’t last forever. How much do I owe?”

Why a Family Media Plan Matters (Especially for Young Kids)

Screens are everywhere—TVs, tablets, phones, even watches. And while technology can entertain, educate, and connect us, too much of it—or the wrong kind—can interfere with development. A media plan isn’t about eliminating screens; it’s about making intentional choices that reflect your family’s values. It helps you set age-appropriate boundaries and build healthy habits early, like when and where screens are okay, how much time is too much, and what kind of content is appropriate.

Think of it as your family’s guide for using technology in a way that supports connection, not conflict.

A good plan evolves with your child. Revisit it regularly—at the start of the school year, over holiday breaks, or whenever routines shift. As kids grow, their needs and challenges change, and your media plan should change with them.

Example Family Media Plan for Children

This helps get two parents on the same page, which is often hard to do. One parent is always more strict while the other is less so. And the answer is often somewhere in the middle.

Below is both a PDF and a Word Doc download of a media plan, and an example media plan for your family.

family media plan download

Get the Family Media Plan in PDF and a Word doc by clicking below. Sent to your inbox.

Get Family Media Plan

1. Where can we use screens in our home?

✅ = Okay to use | 🚫 = Screen-free zone

  • Kitchen/Dining Table
  • Bedrooms
  • Car
  • Living Room
  • Outside

Other ideas:

2. When is it okay to use screens?

Choose the times that work for your family.

  • After homework
  • Before school
  • After chores
  • On weekends only
  • With a parent/caregiver
  • On long trips

Other rules or times:

3. What types of media are okay?

Check the ones your child can use:

  • Educational games
  • Cartoons
  • Nature shows
  • Video calls with family
  • Music or dance videos
  • Learning apps

Anything we don’t allow?

4. What do we do instead of screen time?

List fun screen-free activities your child enjoys:

5. How much screen time each day?

💡 Tip: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 1 hour per day of high-quality programming for kids aged 2–5.

🕒 Our daily screen time limit is: ___________

6. Special Rules for Summer, Holidays, or Weekends:

Sometimes routines change—write down your flexible plan for those times:

7. Our Family Agreement

By signing below, we agree to follow our family’s media plan and talk about it again when things change.

🖊 Parent/Caregiver 1: ___________________ 📅 Date: __________
🖊 Parent/Caregiver 2: ___________________ 📅 Date: __________

🖊 Child: _____________________________ 📅 Date: __________

I hope these resources and sources help.

Sources:

Why I Support Banning Cell Phones in Schools

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