Pediatrics Group Offers New Media Use Guidance for Kids

By Kelly Young

Edited by André Sofair, MD, MPH, and William E. Chavey, MD, MS

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a pair of policy statements to help guide parents and pediatric providers on children’s media use. Among the recommendations:

• For children aged 18 months and under, the AAP recommends no screen time apart from video-chatting.

• For parents who choose to introduce screen time to their 18–24-month-olds, the AAP recommends choosing high-quality content and apps (e.g., PBS Kids) and watching the content with their children.

• For children aged 2–5 years, high-quality screen time should be limited to 1 hour per day.

• Older children should have "consistent limits" on their screen time, with special attention to ensuring they get adequate physical activity (1 hour/day) and sleep (8–12 hours/night for school-aged children). A Family Media Use Plan — linked below — can help families budget time.

Previously, the AAP had recommended no screen time for children under age 2 years, and no more than 2 hours a day for older children.