Screen time isn't recommended at all for children under 2. For children aged 2 to 5, the limit is at most an hour a day, and the same goes for 6 to 10. For 11 to 13, the recommendation is at most two hours. The figures come from Finland's national recommendations by THL (the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare) and the Finnish National Agency for Education, and they cover free time. Schoolwork and homework don't count.
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Screen time recommendations by age
| Age | Recommendation for free time |
|---|---|
| 0 to 2 years | No screen time |
| 2 to 5 years | At most an hour a day, at first together with an adult |
| 6 to 10 years | At most an hour a day |
| 11 to 13 years | At most two hours a day |
Screen time is all device use: phone, tablet, TV, computer, game console and smartwatch. According to the recommendation, a smartphone of their own and social media fit only from age 13.
Why limit screen time?
Screens themselves aren't dangerous. Screen time just easily takes the place of other things: being outside, playing, sleeping and time together. The idea of the recommendation is that devices fit into the day in a way that leaves time for the rest.
Everyday ways to limit screen time
- Screen-free mornings. Devices stay away during breakfast and getting dressed. Mornings often go faster.
- No screens at the table. The adults' phones stay in another room too.
- Devices sleep in the kitchen. Phones and tablets charge overnight in a shared spot, not in the bedroom.
- A timer in sight. For a young child, a kitchen timer shows when time is up. Then stopping isn't the adult's decision every time.
- A warning before the end. "One more episode" or "five more minutes" helps your child stop without a fight.
- What comes next? Agree ahead of time what you'll do when screen time ends. An empty moment pulls everyone back to the screen.
A screen time agreement for the whole family
An agreement works when you make it together. Your child gets a say, and the adults sign up to the same rules. The printable agreement has spaces for:
- Screen time on weekdays and weekends, one child at a time
- Screen-free moments, like breakfast, mealtimes and the hour before bed
- The place where devices sleep at night
- What we do instead of screens
- A signature from everyone in the family
Put the agreement on the fridge door. Look at it together after a month and change whatever didn't work.
Does a family movie night count as screen time?
It does, but it's different from playing alone. The recommendation stresses that a young child's screen time should be time spent with an adult. A family movie night is a good example.
When screen time ends, try a jigsaw puzzle, a coloring page or a quiz: Free printables for kids: coloring pages and more
For parents
Ayaka is a Finnish multivitamin for children over 3. Your child decorates their own jar, so the vitamin moment becomes their own thing. A refill comes through the letterbox once a month. See the starter pack
