The recommendations
The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend no screens before 18 to 24 months, with the exception of video calls with close family. For children aged 2 to 5 the recommendation is at most one hour a day of quality content, ideally watched together with an adult.
Why
The reason has a name: the “video deficit” — an effect found in several studies, where young children transfer what they learn from a screen into the real world far less well than when they learn the same thing from a live person. Language is built in exchange: a pause, a look, an answer. A screen does not wait.
What the reviews show
Systematic reviews find an association between more screen time and weaker results on developmental screening, particularly in language and communication. It is important to understand that this is an association, not a proven cause — but time spent in front of a screen displaces exactly what builds speech most strongly: conversation, play and reading together.
In practice
- Watch together and talk about what is happening — then the screen becomes a reason to talk.
- Keep at least one time of day and one place in the home screen-free.
- Video calls with grandparents are not in the same category — there is real exchange there.
Sources
- World Health Organization (2019). Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age.
- American Academy of Pediatrics — Media and Young Minds, aap.org
- Systematic reviews of screen time and language development (2023–2025).
This article is an informational summary of published research and does not replace an individual assessment.