Screen Time Rules for Children by Age: What WHO and AAP Say

Last reviewed: 28 October 2026

Looking for clear screen time rules for your children? The short answer from global health bodies: no sedentary screen time for babies under two (video calls aside), no more than one hour a day for ages two to four, and clear, consistent limits for school-age children that protect sleep, play and homework. Below is the guidance by age, what it means for Kenyan homes, and six rules that make the long December holiday easier.

Updated October 2026.

On this page

1. Screen Time Rules for Children by Age
2. 6 Screen Time Rules for Kenyan Homes
3. Screen Time Rules for the December Holiday
4. Online Safety Basics
5. Frequently Asked Questions

Screen Time Rules for Children by Age

Under 18 months

The World Health Organization’s 2019 guidelines for children under five recommend no sedentary screen time for babies under one, and none for one-year-olds either. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in its Media and Young Minds policy statement, advises avoiding screens other than video chatting before 18 months. A video call with grandparents is fine; cartoons to keep a baby quiet are not.

18 months to 2 years

WHO still recommends no sedentary screen time for one-year-olds. The AAP says that if parents introduce media at 18 to 24 months, it should be high-quality content watched together, not alone.

Ages 2 to 5

WHO says sedentary screen time for two- to four-year-olds should be no more than one hour a day, and less is better. The AAP gives a similar limit of about one hour of high-quality programmes for ages two to five, watched with an adult who talks about what they see. In PP1 and PP2, play, talk and outdoor movement matter far more for Grade 1 readiness than any learning app.

Ages 6 to 12

There is no single global number here. WHO’s 2020 guidance for ages 5 to 17 asks families to limit sedentary and recreational screen time and aim for at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. The AAP recommends consistent family limits so screens do not replace sleep, homework, physical activity and time together. Its Family Media Plan tool helps you set those limits per child.

Teenagers

Teens need more say in their rules, but the same principles apply: protect sleep, keep phones out of bedrooms at night, and talk openly about social media, cyberbullying and online strangers.

6 Screen Time Rules for Kenyan Homes

Global guidance gives the limits; these screen time rules turn them into daily habits.

1. Screens off one hour before bed. The AAP advises screen-free time before sleep. Charge phones outside bedrooms.
2. Screen-free meals. Supper is often the only time the whole family sits together.
3. Work before play. Homework, chores and outdoor time first, then recreational screen time.
4. Learning screens are different. A timed revision quiz or video lesson counts differently from scrolling. Agree which is which.
5. Parents model it. Children copy what we do. Put your own phone away at meals.
6. Write it down. Screen time rules in a short family phone agreement, signed by everyone, avoid daily arguments.

Screen Time Rules for the December Holiday

The long holiday is when screen time climbs and screen time rules slip. Plan each day around a simple rhythm: morning chores and reading, a short study block, outdoor play, then agreed screen time. Our long holiday revision plan shows how to fit 30 to 45 minutes of learning in without nagging. For Grades 4 to 9, the free CBC Challenge quizzes turn some screen time into practice, with a Day Pass from KSh 20 opening full revision papers when your child wants more.

Online Safety Basics

Limits are only half the job. Set parental controls on phones and YouTube, keep devices in shared rooms for younger children, and teach children never to share their school, location or photos with strangers. If your child is targeted online, see our guide to bullying in Kenyan schools, which covers cyberbullying and the law.

Want a ready-made plan? Download the free family phone agreement sample, then join the Screen Time and Online Safety family course, which works through healthy habits and online safety with parents and children together.

Frequently Asked Questions

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