Phones and televisions are part of family life. The question for most parents is not whether children use screens, but how much and what kind.
How much is enough?
Health guidelines, including those from the World Health Organization, suggest that children aged 2 to 5 have no more than one hour of screen time a day, and less is better. For older children, the aim is a healthy balance, with screens never replacing sleep, play, homework or family time.
What they watch matters
- Choose calm, slow programmes made for young children.
- Watch together when you can, and talk about what you see.
- Avoid screens during meals and in the hour before bed.
- Keep screens out of the bedroom.
Screen-free ideas
- Drawing, colouring and clay
- Building with blocks or old boxes
- Helping in the kitchen
- Playing outside, cycling or ball games
- Reading and storytelling
- Simple board games and puzzles
Be a role model
Children copy what they see. Putting your own phone away during family time is one of the most powerful things you can do.
At Happy Buds, children spend their day learning by doing: talking, playing, drawing and reading together. Book a tour to see a school day.
