For children under 18 months, avoid screens other than video calls with family. From 18 to 24 months, choose a little high-quality content and watch it together. For ages 2 to 5, the World Health Organization advises no more than one hour a day, and less is better. For older children, there is no single number, so the focus moves to making sure screens do not replace sleep, play, school, meals or time with family. How a child uses a screen matters as much as how long.

What do the guidelines say?

Two sources are widely used by pediatricians:

  • The World Health Organization advises no screen time for babies under 1 year, and no more than 1 hour a day, with less being better, for children aged 2 to 4. It also recommends active play, sleep and time with caregivers.
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics advises avoiding screens other than video chat before 18 months, high-quality programmes watched with a parent for ages 18 to 24 months, up to about an hour a day of high-quality content for ages 2 to 5, and consistent limits for older children.

These are guides for families, not rules that apply to every child. Use them as a starting point and adapt them to your child.

Screen time by age

Age A reasonable aim
Under 18 months Avoid screens except video calls with family
18 to 24 months A little high-quality content, watched together
2 to 5 years Up to about 1 hour a day, less if possible, ideally watched together
6 to 12 years Consistent limits that leave room for sleep, homework, exercise, meals and family time
Teenagers Agreed family rules, with phones out of the bedroom at night and no screens at meals

Is all screen time the same?

No. A video call with a grandparent is different from endless short videos, and a story you watch together is different from a child watching alone. When you choose content, think about:

What
slow-paced, age-appropriate, educational programmes are better than fast, noisy or violent ones.
How
watching together and talking about what you see helps a child learn from it.
When
screens in the hour before bed make it harder to fall asleep. Avoid them at mealtimes.
Instead of what
the main risk is that screen time crowds out sleep, active play, reading and talking.

Why does it matter?

Heavy screen use in young children has been linked in studies to later speech and language, attention and sleep difficulties. These studies show links, not proof of cause, and a child who is struggling may also be given more screen time. What is clear is that babies and toddlers learn best through talking, touching, moving and playing with other people. Screens in the background reduce the amount of talk between you and your child, too.

In the UAE, long summers and hot weather mean many children spend more time indoors, so planning screen-free activities matters. Indoor play, a short walk in the evening, soft play, swimming, library visits and indoor play areas all help.

What rules work at home?

Set a plan before the screen goes on.
Decide what and how long, and stick to it.
Keep screens out of bedrooms
and switch them off at least an hour before bed.
Make meals screen-free,
for adults too.
Choose a time rather than a minute count.
“After dinner for one programme” is easier to keep than “30 minutes”.
Use screens with your child
when you can, especially under 5.
Avoid using a screen to calm a tantrum
or to get a child to eat. It teaches the child to depend on it.
Be the example.
Children copy what they see.
Build in alternatives
books, drawing, building, music, outdoor or indoor play.
Use parental controls
and check which apps and games your child uses.

Signs that screen time may be too much

  • trouble falling asleep, or sleeping less than needed for their age
  • tantrums or distress when the screen is taken away
  • little interest in play, books or other children
  • slower speech or language than expected
  • falling behind with school, or avoiding homework
  • headaches, tired or sore eyes (check vision as well; see our guide to protecting your child’s vision)

When to see a doctor

See a pediatrician if you are worried about your child’s speech, sleep, behaviour, attention or vision, or if you cannot get screen use back under control. A screen is rarely the only cause of these problems, so a check can look for others. If your child is very distressed, withdrawn, or talking about harming themselves, seek urgent help. Our guide on speech delay in toddlers lists the signs to watch.

How we can help at myPediaclinic

Dr. Tala Belbeissi, Consultant Pediatrician, and Dr. Medhat Abu-Shaaban, Consultant Pediatrician and Medical Director, talk to families about screen time, sleep, speech and behaviour at pediatric check-ups. We ask about your child’s day, check growth, development, vision and hearing, and help you set rules that fit your family. Consultations at our clinic in Dubai Healthcare City are available in English and Arabic.

Frequently asked questions

Is educational TV or a learning app fine for a toddler?

Under 18 months, screens do not replace real interaction. For older toddlers, a small amount of well-chosen content watched with you can be fine. Apps that are just fast, noisy or full of ads are not educational.

Does screen time cause autism?

There is no evidence that screen time causes autism. But if your child’s speech or social skills seem delayed, do not blame the screen alone, and ask for a developmental check. See our guide to autism screening for toddlers.

How much screen time is too much for a teenager?

There is no magic number. Look at the effects: sleep, mood, school, friendships and activity. Agree family rules together, keep phones out of the bedroom at night, and talk about what they do online.

Do blue light glasses help?

There is no good evidence that they are needed for children. Breaks, good lighting, outdoor time and regular eye checks are more useful.

My child only calms down with a screen. What can I do?

Introduce other ways to calm down, such as a song, a book, a cuddle or a walk, and cut back slowly. It takes a few weeks, and it is easier if the whole family does it together.

To book, message us on WhatsApp at 052 218 1662 or call reception on 04 430 5926.