Screen Time Guidelines for Toddlers: Balancing Learning and Limits
Understanding current screen time guidelines for toddlers helps parents balance the benefits and limitations of screen time to support healthy development.
Providing Quality Childcare Since 2012 • Infants, Toddlers & Preschool • Daycare Centre
Managing screen time for toddlers is a growing concern for parents. While screens are an integral part of modern life, they also present risks for young children, especially toddlers, who are at a crucial stage of development.
Finding the right balance between allowing screen time for learning and limiting it to prevent negative outcomes is vital. This article offers strategies for managing screen time effectively.
How Much Screen Time Should a 2-Year-Old Be Allowed?
Experts say toddlers aged two to five should have no more than one hour of non-educational screen time daily. When considering screen time guidelines for toddlers, it is recommended that screens be used primarily for educational purposes or co-viewing with caregivers.
The emphasis on adult supervision is crucial because toddlers learn more effectively from interactions with caregivers than from passively consuming digital content.
Screen time should also be interactive or educational, such as watching high-quality programs or using apps to encourage learning. Co-viewing allows parents to help toddlers interpret and understand what they are seeing, translating the content into real-world lessons.
What Is Excessive Screen Time for Toddlers?
Excessive screen time can be problematic for toddlers as it takes away from critical activities that promote healthy development, such as physical play, sleep, and face-to-face interactions. When considering screen time guidelines for toddlers, small children who spend more than the recommended one hour per day on screens may experience several negative consequences, including:
- Sleep disturbances: The blue light emitted from screens can interfere with a child’s sleeping patterns, leading to difficulty falling asleep or poor-quality sleep.
- Behavioural issues: excessive screen time can lead to difficulties with focus, emotional regulation, and self-control.
- Delayed development: toddlers exposed to too much screen time may show delays in language and social skills because real-world interactions are essential for developing these abilities.
- Excessive screen time also impacts physical health: the sedentary behaviour associated with screen use can contribute to weight gain and reduced motor skill development. Children who spend too much time in front of screens often engage in fewer physical activities essential for building strong muscles, coordination, and overall physical health. Little ones overly dependent on screens may miss out on learning critical problem-solving and social interaction skills that come from playing with other children.
How Do I Manage My 2-Year-Old's Screen Time?
Following the recommended screen time guidelines for toddlers help you strike a balance between beneficial screen time and excessive use:
Set Time Limits
Limiting screen time to one hour per day on weekdays, with a little more flexibility on weekends, can help prevent overuse. Use parental control settings to monitor and manage screen time usage.
Consider using timers or apps that help track screen time automatically. Certain apps even provide reports that can help parents evaluate the type of content their child watches, enabling better adjustments if needed.
Introducing structured screen time sessions can make the experience more predictable for toddlers, which helps reduce tantrums when screen time ends. For instance, having a consistent routine, such as 30 minutes of educational content after lunch, provides structure without causing screen use to feel like an uncontrolled reward.
Prioritise Educational Content
Choose high-quality educational programs or apps that promote learning. Interactive media that encourages participation, such as learning games, can also be more beneficial than passive viewing.
Look for content that aligns with developmental goals, such as improving language skills, promoting problem-solving, or fostering social-emotional understanding. It’s also vital to ensure that the content is age-appropriate and not overly stimulating, as some shows or apps might be too fast-paced or complex for toddlers, potentially causing frustration or distraction.
Watch Together and Engage With Your Child
Whenever possible, sit with your child during screen time. Co-viewing allows you to discuss what your child is watching, helping them understand the content better and reinforcing positive behaviours. For example, you can talk about sharing or empathy when these themes appear in a show.
Active engagement during screen time enhances little ones’ comprehension and retention of information. When you watch with your child, ask questions about what is happening in the program, such as, “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why did that character feel sad?” Engaging in this way promotes critical thinking and turns passive screen time into a more dynamic learning experience. Co-viewing also offers a chance to reinforce real-life concepts, such as counting items on the screen or identifying colours and shapes.
Define Screen-Free Zones
Create screen-free spaces, especially in areas like the dining room or bedroom. Having family meals without screens and ensuring that all devices are switched off at least 30 minutes before bedtime are great ways to reinforce the idea that screens should not dominate daily life.
Screen-free zones can also extend to social gatherings or playdates, encouraging toddlers to focus on face-to-face interactions rather than relying on screens for entertainment. These designated areas help promote creativity, as children are more likely to engage in imaginative play when screens are absent. The parents can encourage toddlers to use their screen-free time to engage in activities that foster cognitive and motor skill development, such as building blocks, puzzles, or outdoor play.
Promote Offline Activities
Encourage your child to engage in physical play, arts and crafts, and social interactions. The toddlers need a variety of activities to support their development.
Small children thrive on hands-on, sensory-rich experiences. Engage them in activities that involve manipulating objects, such as building blocks, finger painting, or simple puzzles, which help improve fine motor skills and problem-solving abilities. These types of play also foster creativity and independent thinking, which are crucial for early development.
Outdoor play is equally important. Some research shows that children who engage in regular outdoor activities develop better motor skills, improved coordination, and healthier sleeping patterns. Time spent outdoors also exposes toddlers to new sensory experiences, such as different sounds, textures, and sights, which can’t be replicated through screen time. Outdoor play allows toddlers to engage in unstructured, imaginative play, which is critical for cognitive growth and social skills development. Running, climbing, or playing with others promotes physical fitness and allows children to release energy.
Additionally, interactive play with caregivers or other children helps toddlers develop essential communication and empathy skills. By participating in group activities, little ones learn to share, negotiate, and cooperate, things that screen can’t replace.
This balanced mix of physical and mental stimulation contributes to a more holistic development, ensuring that children grow up healthy and well-rounded.
Use Screen Time as a Reward
For some families, using screen time as a reward for completing tasks or good behaviour can be an effective tool. However, this should be done in moderation to avoid creating an over-reliance on screens.
When using screen time as a reward, it’s critical to ensure it doesn’t become the primary source of motivation.
Balancing screen-related rewards and non-digital incentives, such as a favourite toy or extra outdoor playtime, helps diversify positive reinforcement methods. This approach teaches toddlers that screen time is a treat, not a necessity, thus promoting a healthy, moderate relationship with technology.
When following screen time guidelines for toddlers, it is recommended that two-year-olds limit their time to one hour of non-educational content per day.
Make screen time an opportunity for learning, with adult engagement whenever possible.
Set boundaries that encourage a healthy mix of physical, social, and cognitive development activities to support your toddler’s growth in a holistic and balanced way.
We've put together some helpful articles about childcare and daycare in New Zealand
Meet the Team: An Interview with Lu Li, Toddler Room Team Leader
Helping Your Toddler Adjust to a New Sibling
Meet the Team: A chat with Sudha Sharma, Mount Roskill
Natural Materials in Early Childhood Education at BBELC
20 Hours ECE NZ: How the Childcare Subsidy Works for Parents in Auckland
Quick, healthy meals that kiwi kids will actually eat
Our Early Learning Centres
Our early childhood centre environments strongly reflects our inspiration – The Reggio Emilia philosophy, from Reggio Emilia, Italy.
We provide a creative and open ended environment that encourages infinite learning for the children and strong relationships between teachers, children and families.
The day’s routines are flexible. At the same time, care is taken to recognise and respect each child’s needs.
Why Choose a Bright Beginnings Early Learning Centre?
- Encouraging the use of natural materials
- A strong transition into school
- Teaching team inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach supports your child’s creative potential.
- Healthy, tasty hot meals cooked fresh on site
- 20 ECE hours available/free sessions for 3 year olds
- A boutique, homely feel to our centres
- Strong connections between teachers and whanau.
Here's what our parents say about our childcare centres
Come and visit one of our childcare centres and see for yourself why your child will love it
Talk to the Centre Manager, meet the team, see the natural outdoor play areas and educational rooms, learn about how we develop our programs and find out more about our unique approach to partnering with our families.
Our latest parent reviews from Google
Related Posts
What are the Different Types of Early Childhood Centres?
