New recommendations: No screen time for children under 2 years.
What is a reasonable amount of time to let our children be in front of screens?
Many times, parents/guardians ask for recommendations about the amount of screen time for our youngsters. The answer according to the Swedish Association of Child Paediatricians (Barnläkarföreningen) seems straight forward: Children under the age of 2 should not be having any screen time at all, and children ages 2 to 5 should have no more than 1 hour per day and this includes TV.
Please have a look at the interview published on November 1st 2023, by Sveriges Television (SVT) the Swedish Public Service Television and News Channel written by Linéaa Carlén is translated here by Åsa Marks Ulrika Ådén, chair of the Swedish Paediatric Association, gives advice to parents whose children have watched a lot of screens.
What is a reasonable amount of time to let our children be in front of screens? Is there such a thing as” lagom” ( just the right amount ) time, or are the effects of screens worrying enough that parents ought to put a complete ban on screens?
The answer according to the Swedish Association of Child Paediatricians (Barnläkarföreningen): Children under the age of 2 should not be having any screen time at all, and children ages 2 to 5 should have no more than 1 hour per day and this includes TV.
The Swedish Department for Health (Folkhälsomyndigheten) are currently in the process of developing legislation based on research about screen time and the effect screens have on children’s development. However, according to The Associations of Child Paediatricians, to wait for another two years before the government legislation is in place would be too long for our young people to wait, and that is why they have decided to act now by publishing their own recommendations with regards to small children and their use of screens.
Ulrika Åden, the Swedish Association of Child Paediatricians and Professor in Child Medicine and Paediatrician at the Karolinska University Hospital says ‘I think that the current demand for information that we receive from parents, childcare centres and child nurseries shows us that we must act sooner and share with parents in our country our current findings on screens time and their link to speech development’
Children who use screens from an early age can present with delayed speech and difficulties with concentration. Screens can amongst other things impact on the necessary processes needed to develop an ability to understand and manage feelings and emotions. We further know that it can lead to short sightedness and issues with sleep.
” No screentime”
The Swedish Association of Child Paediatricians recommendations align with guidelines already in place in many European countries and in the USA.
Ulrika Ådén adds ‘From the age of age of 0 to 2 we recommend zero screentime. From 2 to 5 years of age, max one hour of screen per day, with programmes appropriate for such young children. We also suggest that an adult joins in and watches the programmes together with the child
This includes all screens – mobiles, tablets and television.
In addition, World Health Organisation (WHO) have published guidelines that tells us that babies should not have any screen time at all and children age 2 – 5 should not be allowed to sit in front of screens more than one hour per day.
The Swedish Association of Child Paediatricians shares below straightforward recommendations on how parents and careers should think and act when it comes to the issue of screens.
1. You are the most important part for your child’s development
You can teach and be a role model for your child by being aware of your own use of screens and digital media. For example, the use of mobile phones can impact on the relational bond you have with your child and this can lead to a spiral of further negative behaviours.
2. Family agreement - Create screen rules in the home
A family agreement, that includes all family members - when, where and how screens can be used/accessed. Using screens together with time limitations can be helpful.
3. Do not use screens to de-escalate or distract from feelings and negative behaviours
Children have feelings and screams, moans and tears are natural – try to distract your child with play such as peek a poo games, toys or a book instead of putting them inform of a screen.
Related articles
World Health Organisation: To grow up healthy, children need to sit less and play more
BBC News: No sedentary screen time for babies, WHO says
National Childbirth Trust: Screen time for babies and toddlers: the evidence