HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
Screen-time strategies
Rautaki wā mata
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Computers, smartphones and even TV and computer games, can be great resources to help your tamariki (children) learn new things, have exciting experiences and give you a break.
But it's important to set limits on screen time to allow more time for being active, playing creatively, socialising and possibly sleeping.
Recommended screen times per day are:
Age |
Recommended maximum screen time per day |
Under 2 years |
No screen time |
2 to 5 years |
One hour |
Over 5 years |
Two hours outside school |
You can use screen time as a reward for good behaviour, but not in response to demanding or difficult behaviour.
Be involved in what your tamariki are watching, making sure you're deciding what they should watch, not them. Using the recommended age ratings for sites or games is a good start. Common Sense Media has some excellent advice for parents about this.
If you do not keep a close eye on what they're watching and how long they're watching it for, it's easy for your tamariki to watch material that is too mature for their years (and may be harmful).
Keep screens like gaming consoles, computers (including tablets), mobile phones and TVs out of their room. This means you can monitor their use more easily. Also, using screens before bedtime can make it harder for them to get to sleep.
HealthInfo recommends the following videos
- Listening to Families – Staying safe and well online
A series of short videos providing answers to questions about tamariki staying safe when they are online or using devices.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Common Sense Media
A website devoted to helping families make smart media choices. It includes recommendations on movies, apps, websites and games, guides for parents, blogs and more.
- Netsafe – Screen time advice for parents
Information about limiting screen time. Netsafe also has detailed information about online safety in its online safety parent toolkit.
The online safety parent toolkit is also available in te reo Māori, Simplified Chinese, Tongan and Samoan.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed May 2021.
SourcesReview key: HIPPR-71581
