General
How Much Screen Time Should Toddlers Have? None, Sweden Says.
Children under the age of 2 should not be exposed to any screens, Swedish public health authorities said, part of a growing effort to limit phone use by youngsters.
Swedish public health authorities recommended this week that children under the age of 2 should not use any digital media, as parents, pediatricians and governments struggle to respond to the challenges of today’s tech-soaked world.
“We have to take back control,” said Jakob Forssmed, the minister of social affairs and public health, and give children “the ability to have a different kind of childhood.”
The intention of Sweden’s policy — and others like it — is to cut down on distractions, promote healthy development and help preserve the innocence of childhood. But some experts wonder if the guidance — however well-intentioned — may be too unrealistic and too judgmental to stick.
Here’s an overview of the debate.
What are Sweden’s recommendations?
There are four main categories to Sweden’s new screen-time recommendations:
Duration. No screens for children under 2, an hour maximum for children aged 2 to 5, two hours for children aged 6 to 12 and three hours for teens.
Control. Sweden recommends following the age limits provided by social media and game companies, and that parents keep tabs on what their children use.
Sleep. No screens before bedtime, or in the bedroom. (That’s probably also a good move for adults, sleep scientists say.)
