New Screen Time Guidance for Under-5s

As many of our pupils have younger siblings, we thought it would be useful to share this with our families. The UK government has published new, evidence-based guidance to help parents manage screen time for young children.

Key recommendations:

Under 2s: Avoid screen time, except for shared activities like video calls.

Ages 2–5: Limit screen use to no more than 1 hour per day.

Avoid screens during meals and before bedtime.

Quality matters:

Choose slow-paced, age-appropriate content.

Avoid fast-paced, social media-style videos.

Watch together where possible—talking and engaging with content supports learning.

Why it matters:

Too much solo screen time can replace important activities like sleep, play, and interaction, which are essential for early development.

Try simple swaps:

Reading together

Playing games at mealtimes

Encouraging creative and physical play

The guidance aims to support families in building healthy habits from an early age, helping children start school ready to learn.

For more information please follow the link https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/screen-time-under-5s