Media and Technology

Media is everywhere. Media is searching for your child's attention at every turn. Children spend about an average of seven hours daily on entertainment- including TV, computers, phones and other devices. Media can provide benefits in learning, connecting and communicating with others. How can we support our children in making wise media choices?

Create a Family Media Plan

Family Media Plan and Media Use Calculator

This tools allows you to come up with a plan for use that works for your family. You can work with your child to set boundaries around technology use both in your home and outside your home.

Use the Media calculator to help determine how much time is left for technology after getting adequate sleep, physical activity, and attending school.

Is it really a problem?

While engaging in media can be beneficial, challenges begin when using media replaces physical activity and hands on learning, both essential to growth and development. Face-to-face interaction is also critical to social learning. Spending too much time on screens can also affect your child's ability to sleep and to sleep well at night. Screens (including TV, tablets, and phones) in the bedroom can interfere with your child's ability to go to sleep and also stay asleep at night.

Content of media can also affect children differently. Young children have a hard time separating reality from fiction. There are a few organizations that can help parents review the content of media and determine what may be appropriate for their family. Common Sense Media, just one example, reviews a variety of movies, apps, games and books for kids. They give recommendations based on developmental best practices. Here's an example of the review for the 2019 Disney move Penguins. This site includes a guide on specific movie content that may be helpful for parents.

Are there recommendations?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for children:

  • Younger than 18 months: Avoid use of screen media other than video-chatting.

  • 18 to 24 months: Watch digital media with your child to help them understand what they're seeing.

  • 2 to 5 years: Up to 1 hour per day of media. Consider watching with your child to help them process what is shown and apply it to his or her surroundings.

  • 6 and older: Consistent limits on time and type of media. Media should not take the place of adequate sleep or physical activity.

  • Work together to set up media-free family times, such as dinner. Set up media-free locations in your home, such as the bedroom.

  • Engage in communication with your child or children about respecting others on and offline. Visit healthychildren.org or commonsense.org for tips to introduce online citizenship and safety.