27th March 2026
iHV welcomes the Government’s response to parents’ calls for support on screen time for children under 5 years, with new guidance to help families navigate its use.
Following weeks of engagement with thousands of parents who described how they are facing a constant battle with screens, the new clear guidance has been developed to help families navigate fast-moving technology with clear support on how much screen time is too much, and how to build healthy habits.
Launched today, this new evidence-backed advice has been developed with the Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, and is underpinned by the findings of an expert panel led by the Children’s Commissioner and Professor Russell Viner (paediatrician and former President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health) and leading experts in the field of neuroscience, child health and the early years. The iHV contributed to the development of this guidance as part of the Digital Standards Early Years Action Group and also giving evidence to Dame Rachel De Sousa’s review.
Currently, parents are left to navigate fast‑moving technology alone – with a quarter (24%) of parents of 3‑ to 5‑year‑olds finding it hard to control their child’s screen time, and 98% of two‑year‑olds watching screens every day. This underlines the need for support, which is why the guidance gives parents the clear, trusted tools they need to cut through uncertainty and conflicting advice online.
The new guidance is available for free online through the Best Start in Life website, and from Family Hubs. It contains key tips including:
- Under 2s: Avoiding screen time other than for shared activities that encourage bonding, interaction and conversation.
- 2- to 5-year-olds: Trying to keep it to no more than one hour a day. Avoid at mealtimes and in the hour before bed.
- Content: Choosing slow-paced, age-appropriate content. Fast-paced, social media-style videos and AI toys or tools should be avoided for young children.
- Co-viewing: Watching or using screens together – talking, asking questions, and engaging with the content – is better for children’s development than solo screen use.
With 90% of children’s development happening before the age of five, parents are being supported to make safe screen swaps like reading bedtime stories together or playing simple games at mealtimes.
The suggested swaps prioritise straightforward activities to help children with the social, emotional and language skills to give them the best start in life, so they can start school ready to learn.
The panel reviewed the latest scientific evidence on screen use in under-5s, and found that long periods of time spent on screens alone can get in the way of activities critical for development like sleep, physical activity, creative play, and interaction with parents.
But not all screen use is equal. The evidence shows that watching screens with an engaged adult where parents talk and ask questions is linked to better cognitive development than solo use, that slow-paced content is far better for development than fast-paced social media-style videos, and that time limits shouldn’t apply in the same way for screen-based assistive technologies to support children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner, said:
“Children are growing up in a world where screens are everywhere. Parents tell me they want clear, non-judgemental information about why limiting screen use is important, given in a way that reflects the realities of their daily lives.
“That’s why I was pleased to co-chair the group advising the government for this first piece of guidance on screen time for children under five, setting out why it’s so important to avoid particular kinds of screen time, and how.
“Young children need their parents to be confident in managing their screen use, but often this can be overwhelming for parents learning to navigate this. My hope is that this guidance helps to cut through the conflicting advice available and prioritise children’s development and wellbeing, as well as their safety.”
Professor Sam Wass, University of East London, Director of the Institute for the Science of Early Years, said:
“Children’s screen use in the early years is changing rapidly, not just in how much they watch, but in the type of content they engage with.
“Young brains process sights and sounds very differently from adults, and early experiences can have lasting effects on attention, learning and emotional wellbeing.
“Guidance like this helps families make informed choices about media use, supporting healthy development and stronger family connections. This is an area where our understanding is changing fast, and where small changes can make a big difference.”
We encourage all health visitors and skill mix team members to familiarise yourselves with the guidance and underpinning evidence – and share it with families.
The parent-facing guidance on screen time for under 5s is available here.
The Early Years Screen Time Advisory Group report, with underpinning evidence, is available here.
The government’s consultation on children’s online safety was launched on 2 March. It closes on 26 May – more information and details of submission are available here.
For a brief overview of digital overload in infants, watch this short presentation by Professor Sam Wass (Director of the Institute for the Science of Early Years, University of East London) recorded at the iHV Leadership Conference – here.
