The growing rise of technology has long offered both promise and peril for young minds, leaving many parents wondering how to manage screen time for kids in a healthy way. While parents in the 1980s worried about video games, today’s youth are turning to AI-powered chatbots, smartwatches and voice assistants.
Interactive and digital content can boost some skills, but mounting evidence suggests that much of the digital ecosystem — from online games to short-form videos to AI chats — can affect language, sleep, social skills, self-esteem, and school performance.
Dr. Ashok Shimoji-Krishnan, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, offers some tips for managing screen time.
How much screen time is okay for kids?
In general, Shimoji-Krishnan supports the idea that children under two shouldn’t have any screen time. “There’s no benefit, and it’s detrimental for emotional regulation for children under age two,” Shimoji-Krishnan says.
Screen use during these sensitive ages can lead to reduced language development and behavioral issues, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
At age two, some screen time with limits is possible, ideally less than an hour per day, with a parent or caregiver watching alongside the child to discuss themes or ideas presented.
Experts say screen time works best when parents pay attention to content, context and what screens may be replacing.
However, he differentiates between passive screen time — where children sit and absorb a program or show or respond to prompts in a game — and active screen time, such as video calls with grandparents. “There’s an active communication piece happening there,” Shimoji-Krishnan says, building future social skills through tone of voice or social cues.
For ages five and older, he recommends two or fewer hours of screen time daily. “It’s tricky because screens are used heavily during school hours as well, and some of that may be more active where kids are reading, learning and absorbing information,” Shimoji-Krishnan says.
Why can social media be hard for kids?
New research shows that social media for kids under 14 is particularly harmful, says the doctor. Short-form video, colorful interactions and explicit or inappropriate material can lead to less-than-optimal behaviors, such as following dangerous social media trends.
“Children under 14 can have a hard time differentiating what’s real and what’s not,” Shimoji-Krishnan says. If they see a photo of an attractive person with lots of filters applied, they may not understand that the photo has been altered. When someone posts about an idealized romantic relationship, a brain under 14 has trouble understanding that what they are looking at is unrealistic.
How can parents set healthier rules?
Ground rules for media use: For example, younger children might use only websites, games or shows you’ve discussed in advance, and on shared tech tools (such as a family tablet) in public areas of the house.
Model good behavior: “As parents, we have to model behaviors of what’s appropriate, including maintaining our own two-hour limits and charging a phone in the kitchen, out of the bedroom,” Shimoji-Krishnan says. “If we can’t demonstrate the rule, why should they follow it?”
Show curiosity: Ask what interests your child, what they enjoy watching or playing and what topics they enjoy exploring online. “Kids love showing off their video games to parents,” Shimoji-Krishnan says, which allows them to demonstrate their expertise.
Have fun: Whether you’re an old-school gamer or new to tech, many games can be played as a family. “Who knows, you may even enjoy battling zombies,” he says, and you’ll build familiarity with your child’s pastimes and today’s online world.
