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Screen Time for Young Children — What’s Healthy?
In today’s digital world, screens are everywhere — TVs, tablets, phones, and even learning toys. For parents of infants and toddlers, screen time for young children can be confusing, making it hard to know how much is okay or if it’s okay at all. At About Play, we believe in supporting families with clear, realistic guidance that promotes healthy development during the most important early years.
Why Screen Time Matters in Early Childhood
The first three years of life are critical for brain development. When it comes to screen time for young children, real-life interactions, movement, play, and relationships matter most. Talking, singing, reading, and playing with caregivers build essential social, language, and cognitive skills in ways screens simply can’t replace.
While technology isn’t all bad, too much screen time — especially passive viewing — can interfere with opportunities for learning and connection.
General Screen Time Guidelines
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides these recommendations:
- Birth to 18 months: Avoid screen time, except for video chatting with family members.
- 18 to 24 months: If screens are introduced, choose high-quality, educational content and watch together with your child.
- 2 to 5 years: Limit screen time to no more than one hour per day, focusing on educational programming and co-viewing whenever possible.
These guidelines emphasize that how children use screens is just as important as how long they use them.
What Does “Healthy” Screen Time Look Like?
Healthy screen use should be:
- Interactive: Watching and talking about what’s on the screen together.
- Purposeful: Educational, age-appropriate content.
- Balanced: Not replacing play, outdoor time, or social interaction.
Instead of using screens as a default activity, think of screen time for young children as a small part of your child’s day. The rest of their time should be spent moving, playing, and exploring their environment. Through hands-on experiences like crawling, climbing, talking, problem-solving, and interacting with others, children build skills across all five areas of development: cognitive, communication, motor, self-help, and social-emotional. These real-world experiences are essential for learning and development and cannot be replaced by screen time alone.
Signs Screen Time May Be Too Much
You may want to reduce screen time if your child:
- Has difficulty transitioning away from screens
- Shows delayed speech or limited eye contact
- Prefers screens over playing with others
- Becomes irritable or overstimulated after screen use
If you have concerns about your child’s development, early intervention can help.
Screen-Free Ways to Support Development
Some of the best learning moments don’t require screens at all:
- Reading books together
- Singing songs and nursery rhymes
- Playing on the floor with toys
- Going outside and exploring
- Talking through daily routines like meals and bath time
These everyday interactions build the foundation for communication, motor skills, and social-emotional growth.
How About Play Can Help
At About Play, our early interventionists work alongside families to support development through play-based, child-led strategies that fit naturally into daily life. We help caregivers learn simple, effective ways to encourage learning.
If you have questions about screen time, development, or whether your child may benefit from early intervention services, we’re here to help.
If you have questions about your child’s development or want to connect with our team about our services, visit AboutPlaySC.com.
If you live in South Carolina and think your infant or child is experiencing developmental delays, we can help.
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