The government has released official guidance on screen time for children under five, which includes advice on how much toddlers should be watching TV or iPads
Children aged two to five should only watch one hour of screen time a day and avoid it entirely during mealtimes or before bedtime, landmark guidance says.
Parents have been told kids under two-years-old should entirely avoid TVs or iPads unless it encourages real-life bonding. And young children should avoid fast-paced, social media-style videos and AI toys or tools, with slow-paced content deemed “far better” for children’s development.
Families are encouraged to watch or use screens together as experts say talking, asking questions and engaging with the content is linked to better cognitive development than solo screen use.
Releasing the official guidance, Keir Starmer said parenting in the digital age “can feel relentless” and vowed not to leave parents “face this battle alone”. Campaigners warned the new official advice is not about “pointing the finger” and blaming parents but to provide clear and trusted support.
Some 98% of children under two watched TV, videos or other digital content on screens every day for an average of more than two hours (127 minutes), official research shows. The study also revealed children with screen time of around five hours a day could say fewer words than those who watched less than an hour.
Separate research by early years charity Kindred Squared found that 28% of children starting reception in the UK cannot use a book properly, with many attempting to “swipe” or tap physical pages like a tablet.
Mr Starmer said: “Parenting in a digital world can feel relentless. Screens are everywhere, and the advice is often conflicting. My government will not leave parents to face this battle alone. Our new guidance cuts through the noise with clear, common‑sense tips to keep children safe and make sure healthy habits are baked in from the start.”
The screen time guidance was developed by an expert panel led by the Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza and Professor Russell Viner, a paediatrician and expert in children’s health.
- Under 2s: Avoiding screen time other than for shared activities that encourage bonding, interaction and conversation.
- 2- to 5-year-olds: Trying to keep it to no more than one hour a day. Avoid at mealtimes and in the hour before bed.
- Content: Choosing slow-paced, age-appropriate content. Fast-paced, social media-style videos and AI toys or tools should be avoided for young children.
- Co-viewing: Watching or using screens together – talking, asking questions, and engaging with the content – is better for children’s development than solo screen use.
The new guidance is available for free on the Best Start in Life website.
The Department for Education noted that some children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) may need a more tailored approach when it comes to screens, with screen-based assistive technology being an important tool.
The Prime Minister also vowed to do more to crackdown on addictive features on social media after Meta and Google were found liable for causing addiction. He was on Thursday asked about future action after a California jury ruled that Facebook owner Meta and YouTube – owned by Google – were negligent in designing platforms that were addictive.
“Obviously we’ll study that ruling very carefully, but I’m absolutely clear that we need to go further,” he replied. “The status quo isn’t good enough. We need to do more to protect children.”
The government earlier this month launched a consultation on introducing a wide range of measures to tackle online harms, including a social media ban for under 16s, overnight curfews or caps on social media apps.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Every child deserves the chance to grow up safe, healthy and full of possibility – and this government is determined to ensure that happens.
“I know how hard it is to navigate parenting in a world full of screens. They’re unavoidable, but it often feels impossible to tell whether you’re getting the balance right. That’s why we’re giving parents the clear, trusted support they’ve asked for.”
Frank Young, chief executive of Parentkind said: “This is a huge issue for parents who face huge challenges when it comes to screens and their children. Many parents struggle which is why we need to help parents without pointing the finger.”
