Screens (phones, tablets, TV) are designed to hold attention. A toddler’s brain grows fastest through two-way interaction with people — not from a screen, even an ‘educational’ one.
Guidelines at a glance
- Under 2: no screen time (except video-chatting with family).
- 2–4 years: at most 60 minutes a day, less is better.
- No screens during meals or in the hour before bed.
- When watching, watch together and talk about it.
What replaces the screen matters more than the screen itself: active play, books, and play with a parent.
Avoiding screens entirely isn’t realistic today. The aim is restraint, not a total ban. If you need a short break with a brief video, choose quality and watch along — don’t make the screen a permanent babysitter.