TL;DR: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has moved away from strict "stopwatch" parenting. Instead of just counting minutes, they want you to be a "Media Mentor." The goal is to ensure screens aren't displacing sleep, physical activity, or face-to-face connection. If your kid is healthy, social, and sleeping well, you’re probably doing better than you think.
Top Media Recommendations for Healthy Engagement:
- Best for Preschoolers: Bluey (Show) — High emotional intelligence, great for co-viewing.
- Best for Creative Play: Toca Life World (App) — Digital dollhouse without the competitive stress.
- Best for Older Kids: Minecraft (Game) — The gold standard for "productive" screen time.
- Best Educational Bridge: PBS Kids (Website) — Research-backed content that actually respects a child's development.
For years, the AAP gave us the "two-hour rule," which parents mostly used as a stick to beat themselves with when a rainy Saturday turned into a Frozen marathon. In recent years, they’ve gotten a lot more realistic.
The current guidelines recognize that we live in a digital world. Screens aren't just for "entertainment" anymore; they are where our kids do homework on Google Classroom, talk to Grandma on FaceTime, and learn how to code on Scratch.
The shift is from quantity to quality and context. The AAP wants you to focus on a "Family Media Use Plan" rather than a rigid timer. They care less about whether your kid spent 62 minutes on an iPad and more about whether that iPad time is turning them into a "zombie" who misses dinner or skips soccer practice.
Ask our chatbot to help you create a custom Family Media Plan
The AAP breaks things down by developmental stages. Here is the no-BS version of what that looks like in a modern home:
Under 18 Months: The "Video Chat Only" Phase
The AAP is pretty firm here: No screens. The only exception is video chatting. Babies need "serve and return" interaction—they coo, you smile back. A screen can’t do that.
- Reality Check: If you need to put on Sesame Street for 10 minutes so you can shower without a toddler emergency, the world will not end. Just don't make it a babysitter.
18 to 24 Months: High-Quality Co-Viewing
If you want to introduce media, choose high-quality programming and watch it with them. This is the age where they need you to explain that the cartoon dog isn't real.
- Avoid: "YouTube rabbit holes." Even YouTube Kids can get weird fast at this age. Stick to curated apps like Khan Academy Kids.
Ages 2 to 5: The 1-Hour Limit (ish)
The AAP suggests limiting non-educational screen time to about an hour a day. The focus should be on "co-viewing" or "co-playing."
- The Goal: Use media as a conversation starter. If they're watching Wild Kratts, talk about the animals later at the park.
- The Trap: Avoid "brain rot" content. If the video features bright colors, high-pitched screaming, and no plot (looking at you, certain toy unboxing channels), it’s probably overstimulating their developing brains.
Ages 6 and Older: The "Balance" Phase
This is where the stopwatch officially dies. For school-aged kids, the AAP says to "place consistent limits" and ensure that media doesn't take the place of adequate sleep, physical activity, and other behaviors essential to health.
- The "Ohio" Factor: This is when kids start picking up internet slang and watching Skibidi Toilet. You don't have to ban it, but you should know what it is so you can roll your eyes with authority.
Check out our guide on understanding Brain Rot and internet slang
If your kid spends an hour reading Wings of Fire on an iPad, is that the same as an hour spent scrolling TikTok? Of course not.
The AAP guidelines now encourage parents to look at the Content and the Context:
- Passive vs. Active: Watching a mindless "satisfying slime" video is passive. Building a complex machine in Minecraft or editing a video in CapCut is active and creative.
- Solitary vs. Social: Is your teen isolated in their room, or are they playing Roblox with their school friends while laughing on a headset? One is lonely; the other is the modern version of hanging out at the mall.
- Educational vs. Junk: Using Duolingo to learn Spanish is a win. Watching 40 consecutive "Shorts" of people dropping Mentos into Coke is... less of a win.
Instead of being the "Screen Police," try being a "Media Mentor." This means moving from "Put that away!" to "Show me what you're doing."
- Play with them: Jump into their Roblox world for 20 minutes. You’ll quickly see if they’re actually learning entrepreneurship by trading items or if they’re just being pressured to buy "Robux."
- Discuss the "Why": Ask them, "How do you feel after you've been on Instagram for an hour?" Help them notice when they feel "gross" or "tired" from too much screen time.
- Model the Behavior: If you’re scrolling X/Twitter at the dinner table, the AAP guidelines don't matter—your kids will do what you do, not what you say.
The AAP is very clear that screen time becomes a problem when it interferes with "real life." Here are the red flags that mean it's time to tighten the screws:
- Sleep Deprivation: If the phone is under the pillow at 11 PM, it’s a problem. The AAP recommends all screens be off 60 minutes before bed.
- Emotional Volatility: If taking the iPad away results in a "Level 10" meltdown every single time, the dopamine loops are likely too strong. You might need a "digital detox."
- Social Withdrawal: If they’re turning down invitations to go to the movies or the pool because they’d rather stay home and play Fortnite, the balance is off.
Ages 10+. It's a social hub, but the predatory "item shop" and the "just one more round" nature of Battle Royale can make it hard for kids to self-regulate. It's not "bad," but it requires active management.
Ages 13+ (technically). The algorithm is designed to keep you watching. For younger kids, stick to the YouTube Kids app where you have more control over the "search" function.
Ask our chatbot about the best parental control settings for YouTube
The AAP Screen Time guidelines are a north star, not a law.
Some days, you’re going to be the "Media Mentor" who watches a documentary about space with your kids. Other days, you’re going to be the parent who lets them play Among Us for three hours so you can finish your taxes or just have a moment of peace.
Both of those parents are doing a good job.
The goal isn't zero screens; the goal is a healthy "Media Diet." Just like we don't expect kids to eat broccoli at every meal, we don't expect them to only use "educational" apps. A little "junk food" media is fine, as long as the main course is sleep, movement, and real-world connection.
- Audit the "Junk": Take a look at your kid's most-used apps. Is it Scratch (coding) or just endless scrolling?
- Set a "Bedtime" for Devices: Collect all phones and tablets and charge them in a common area (like the kitchen) overnight.
- Find a "Co-Play" Game: If you're feeling disconnected, try a board game like Catan or a "cozy" video game you can play together like Stardew Valley.