Arabic version: إرشادات جديدة تحد من وقت الشاشة للأطفال دون سن الخامسة

Children under the age of five should be limited to one hour of screen time a day, while under-twos should not be watching screens alone, according to new government guidance. The guidance encourages families to engage with screens together and to swap screen time for reading or playing games.

According to BBC News, this is the first evidence-backed, practical advice issued by the government regarding screen time. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasized the need for a precautionary approach, noting that the effects of screen time on young children are still being studied.

Research by children’s commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza and scientific adviser Prof Russell Viner indicates that prolonged solo screen time can negatively impact children’s sleep and physical activity, both crucial for their development. The government has previously mentioned that about 98% of children are watching screens on a daily basis by the age of two.

The new guidance distinguishes between types of screen time; watching screens with an engaged adult is linked to better cognitive development than solo use. Families like the Montastiers in Manchester are attempting to adhere to these new recommendations, although they face challenges in reducing screen time amidst daily routines.

Experts are also studying how modern, fast-paced content affects young viewers, with concerns that such content may lead to emotional dysregulation. The guidance does not impose the same limits on screen-based assistive technologies for children with special educational needs. Additionally, it recommends avoiding AI toys, while acknowledging the difficulty of completely shielding young children from technology in today’s environment.