How to Regulate Screen Time for Children

Different generations of parents relate differently to gadgets that did not exist in their own childhood. Some admire the fact that their toddler can already turn on cartoons on a tablet at one and a half years old, while others try to keep their child away from screens until school age. Many parents still attempt to limit screen time because they themselves know how hard it can be to put a phone down. As a result, the desire to protect a child from the bright and endless online world until they develop self regulation becomes natural.

This raises an important question. When does a child develop a conscious attitude toward gadgets, and how should time be managed while they are still unable to control themselves. Psychologists remind us that there are clear guidelines. The World Health Organization states that children under the age of two do not need screen time at all. In preschool age, it is best to limit it to one hour a day. For younger schoolchildren, one to three hours is considered acceptable, and adolescents can have slightly more. Russian recommendations are similar. For primary school students, no more than two hours is advised, and for older students, up to four hours.

Specialists emphasize that the later gadgets appear in a child’s life, the calmer their brain development will be. However, if children have already become familiar with digital entertainment, reducing usage time can be difficult. Competing with a bright screen is almost impossible. That is why strict bans are less important than warm and trusting relationships. When there is real connection between parent and child, it is easier to discuss limits without conflict.

If a young child becomes upset when a gadget is taken away, they should first be comforted. This does not mean that the device should be returned. A gadget should not become a punishment, a reward, or a tool of pressure. It is simply a tool, not a method of upbringing.

With older children, an honest conversation is needed about why screen time is limited and what happens to the brain when gadgets take up too much space in life. A teenager may still feel dissatisfied, but it is important for a parent to calmly tolerate these emotions and explain that the child is not yet able to manage time independently, which is why adults have to set rules.