A guide to screen time for under 5s: helping children build healthy habits
A guide to screen time for under 5s
The government has published new, evidence-informed guidance to help parents and carers of children under 5 navigate screen time. With digital screens now part of everyday family life, the guidance aims to offer clear, practical advice to help families build healthy screen habits in the early years.
The early years are especially important for children’s development. The guidance explains that 90% of a child’s brain development happens by the age of 5, making this a key time for developing social, emotional and cognitive skills. It also notes that screens are now a very normal part of childhood, with nearly 98% of two-year-olds watching television, videos or other digital content on a typical day.
Importantly, this advice is not about blaming or judging parents. It has been developed to give families straightforward information so they can feel more confident in the choices they make at home.
What does the guidance recommend?
The key advice is simple and practical.
For babies and toddlers under 2, the guidance says to avoid screen time, except for shared activities that encourage bonding and interaction, such as video calls with family or looking through photos together. For children aged 2 to 5, parents are advised to try to keep screen time to no more than one hour a day, and less where possible.
What kind of content is better for young children?
The guidance makes the point that not all screen content is equal. Young children can become overstimulated more easily than adults, so the advice is to choose slow-paced, predictable content with simple stories and clear speech.
Fast-paced, over-stimulating, social media-style videos are best avoided, as they may affect how young children learn to concentrate. The guidance also advises using parental controls to help block harmful or inappropriate content.
Why does it matter?
The guidance explains that large amounts of screen time have been linked to negative effects on children’s social, emotional and language development, as well as sleep, eyesight and healthy weight. At the same time, it emphasises something reassuring: small, simple changes can make a real difference.
Young children learn best through warm interaction with parents and carers. Reading, play, conversation and shared experiences. These early moments help build the foundations for language, emotional understanding, problem-solving and self-control.
Screens should not replace the things children need most. A key message throughout the guidance is that screens should not replace sleep, physical activity, play or quality time with parents and carers.
That is why the advice encourages families to keep bedrooms and mealtimes screen-free where possible, and to swap screens before bed for quieter activities such as reading stories. The guidance also suggests avoiding screens for the hour before sleep, as they can disrupt rest.
At mealtimes, simple alternatives such as conversation, music or games can help make the time feel more social and connected.
Another helpful point in the guidance is that young children should not be left to use screens alone where possible. Watching together gives adults the chance to talk about what they are seeing, support language development and help children make sense of the content. It also helps parents and carers spot anything unsuitable.
This shared approach can make screen time feel more purposeful and balanced, rather than passive.
Children notice our habits too
The guidance also reminds us that children copy what they see. It says that children’s brains are like sponges, so they are likely to notice and imitate adult screen habits. Parents and carers are therefore encouraged to be mindful of how often they use screens around their child.
That does not mean parents need to be perfect. It simply reflects how powerful everyday routines and role modelling can be in the early years.
What if my child has SEND?
The guidance notes that children with disabilities or special educational needs may sometimes benefit from more tailored screen use. For some children, assistive technology can play an important role in communication and everyday participation. As with all children, it is still important to make sure screen time does not replace interaction, play and sleep.
Small changes can make a big difference
One of the most reassuring parts of the guidance is that it does not ask families to overhaul everything overnight. Instead, it encourages small, realistic swaps that can support healthy habits over time. That might mean choosing slower-paced programmes, keeping screens away at mealtimes, reading together before bed, or making more time for talking, playing and being active together.
Our approach at Banana Moon Bromley
At Banana Moon Bromley, we understand that modern family life is busy, and that parents are often making decisions around routines, sleep, meals, play and screen time all at once. That is why practical, balanced guidance like this can be so helpful.
We know that children thrive through interaction, movement, play, stories, conversation and real-world experiences. Supporting children’s development in those ways is at the heart of what we do every day.
If you would like to explore the guidance in more detail, the links below are a useful place to start.
We are confident you will appreciate our nursery, its setting and facilities. Should you wish to visit, we are available at any time to meet with you. Any comments or input from parents are always welcome.
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