Under-fives should not watch screens for more than an hour a day, Keir Starmer tells parents
Parents should limit screen time for children under five to no more than one hour a day, according to new government advice.
Families will also be advised that screens should not be used at bedtime and mealtimes, and that screens should be avoided completely for children under the age of two, except for shared activities that encourage interaction.
The new guidance comes as ministers consider Australian-style measures to limit or ban social media for under-16s, amid growing concerns about the impact of technology on children’s wellbeing and development.
Sir Keir Starmer promised the new guidance would help families keep their children safe and develop healthy habits.
“Parenting in a digital world can be brutal,” she said. “Screens are everywhere and advice is often contradictory. My government will not leave parents alone with this fight.”
He also said ministers were ready to tackle the issue in the coming months. “There will be some who will oppose us doing this. But whether it’s advancing technology, managing living expenses, or balancing the demands of family life, I will always stand with parents doing the best they can for their children,” she said.
Between ages two and five, families will be asked to experiment with music, games, stories, and coloring at bedtime and mealtimes.
The guide also recommends watching screens with children and discussing the content with them.
Parents will also be warned to stay away from fast-paced social media-style videos, toys or vehicles that use artificial intelligence.
For children under two, screens should be avoided except for shared activities that encourage interaction, such as video calling with friends and family or looking at photos together.
Ministers have previously said around 98 per cent of children watch screens every day by the age of two.
The guidance was developed by a panel led by children’s commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza and child health expert Professor Russell Viner.
The panel found that prolonged screen time can interfere with activities important for good development, such as sleep, physical activity, imaginative play and interaction with parents.
Education Minister Bridget Phillipson said: “I know how difficult it is to navigate parenting in a world full of screens.
“These things are inevitable, but it often feels impossible to tell whether you’re getting the balance right.
“That’s why we give parents the clear, reliable support they want, so families can make informed choices and children can have the childhood they deserve.”
Babies who spend the most screen time are significantly less likely to read regularly or go on trips outside, the Education Policy Institute finds.
The panel also recommended in its report that parents should consider their own screen use around their children and consider screen-free periods of the day for the whole family.
James Bowen, deputy general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said he welcomed the guidance.
“Navigating an increasingly digital world where screens are everywhere can be a real challenge for parents, and school leaders are increasingly concerned about the impact of young children’s excessive screen use,” he said, warning it could lead to “real problems”.
