Screen Time Calculator for Kids

According to the AAP, children aged 2 to 5 should have no more than about 1 hour per day of high-quality programming, ideally watched together with a parent. That is a daily budget of 60 minutes, or 7 hours per week (60 × 7 = 420 minutes).

Under 18 months: avoid screen media except video chatting. 18 to 24 months: less than 1 hour per day of high-quality programming, watched together. 2 to 5 years: about 1 hour per day of high-quality programs, co-viewed. Ages 6 and older: no fixed minute count — set consistent family limits that protect sleep, physical activity, homework, and family time.

The WHO 2019 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behavior recommend no sedentary screen time for children under 2, and less is better for ages 2 to 4. For the youngest children, the WHO emphasizes interactive floor-based play and reading over any passive screen use.

No. The AAP explicitly exempts live video chatting from its screen time limits, even for children under 18 months, because it is interactive social connection rather than passive media consumption.

Yes, they count toward the recreational budget — the AAP's 1-hour guidance for ages 2–5 already assumes the content is high-quality and educational. What usually sits outside the limit is required schoolwork and homework, which the AAP treats separately from recreational media.

If actual screen time is at or below the budget, the score is 100. If it is over, the score is 100 × (budget ÷ actual), rounded. Example: budget 60 minutes, actual 90 minutes → 100 × 60 ÷ 90 = 66.67 → 67.

7 hours per week. 60 minutes × 7 days = 420 minutes, and 420 ÷ 60 = 7 hours.

First, remember the AAP sets no universal minute number for ages 6+ — the budget is your family's own consistent limit. A one-off 50% overage (e.g. 180 minutes against a 120-minute family limit) is not an emergency; check whether it displaced sleep, homework, or activity, then restore the routine the next day instead of punishing. Recurring overages call for renegotiating the family media plan together.

The AAP recommends minimizing background media around young children because it reduces parent-child interaction and language exposure, even when the child is not actively watching. This calculator scores engaged screen time; treat background TV as something to reduce rather than log.

Yes — and for young children it works better. Two 30-minute sessions with a play break between them are easier to enforce and less tiring than one 60-minute block. Use the Time Planner tab to pre-split the budget into educational, entertainment, and social portions.

Common warning signs include tantrums when devices are taken away, trouble falling asleep, declining interest in physical play, less face-to-face interaction, and complaints of tired eyes or headaches. Treat these as cues to re-check the budget against the AAP/WHO table above, not as a diagnosis.

No. This tool turns published AAP and WHO guidelines into planning numbers for general information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace your pediatrician — talk to your child's doctor about what is right for your family.

Use a neutral system instead of willpower: visual timers kids can see, consistent screen-free zones (meals, bedrooms, the hour before bed), and an earn-based routine where recreational minutes follow homework, reading, and outdoor play. Review the family media plan monthly with your child so the rules feel agreed, not imposed.