UK Government Issues First National Screen Time Guidelines for Children Under Five

The UK government has published its first national screen time guidelines for children under five, marking a significant policy development in child health guidance. The recommendations advise zero screen time for children under two years old, with the exception of video calls and other shared activities. For children aged two to five, the guidance sets a maximum limit of one hour of screen time per day. The government emphasizes that when screens are used, shared viewing with parents or caregivers is preferable to children watching alone, reflecting concerns about early childhood development and digital media exposure.

New UK Screen Time Guidelines for Young Children

• ▪The UK government issued its first national screen time guidelines for children under five.
• ▪The UK government's new guidance recommends a maximum of one hour per day of screen time for children aged two to five.
• ▪The UK government issued new guidance recommending that screen time for children under two should be avoided, except for shared activities such as video calls.

Recommendations for Shared Versus Solo Viewing

• ▪Video calls are included as an acceptable shared screen activity for children under two in the UK government's new guidance.
• ▪The UK government's new screen time guidance states that watching screens together is better than children viewing alone.

Perspective of UK Government

• ▪The UK government's screen time guidelines for children under five aim to protect early childhood development.
• ▪The UK government recommends shared screen viewing over solitary viewing for young children to promote healthier engagement.

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