Expert Recommendation: A Parent’s Guide to Healthy Youth Screen Time

Expert Recommendation: A Parent’s Guide to Healthy Youth Screen Time

By Tish Taylor, PhD
Licensed Psychologist, Independent Practice | Author

With digital media and screentime use being an integral part of our daily lives, it is important to promote the healthiest habits for children and teens. This is especially true as we do not fully understand the long-term effects of digital media use on growth and development. Important conclusions from recent research and applicable guidelines for parents and guardians are included below.

Considering Physical and Mental Health:

Although we do not have multiple decades of research on digital media use, and the usage of digital media continues to evolve, there is evidence to suggest that there may be potential effects across different domains of functioning. Based on current research findings, we can summarize what we currently know about the negative impact on physical and mental health:

• There is a connection between longer screen time use and limited physical activity, reduction in sleep, decreased sustained attention, decreased executive functioning skills, decreased academic performance, and increased difficulties with emotionality and socialization.
• More specifically, excessive screen time use has been shown to increase obesity levels, increase sleep disorders, increase depression and anxiety, increase some types of aggression, and decrease peer connections and support.
• While it is difficult to determine how much screen time is too much screen time for individual children and teens, but we know that over four hours per day for teens has resulted in increased negative physical and mental health results.
• Content exposure prior to a child having enough maturity to successfully manage that including exposure to excessive violence, sexual content, biases or stereotypes, misleading information, cyberbullying, and the most concerning possibility is child predators.

On the other hand, are there positive outcomes from digital media?

• Some on-line only friendships can provide connection or protective factors with significant mental health challenges or groups feeling socially marginalized.
• Mild improvements with attention, executive functioning, and response inhibition with video gaming. However, it is unclear how this generalizes into other areas of functioning.
• Exposure to educational information and information affirming for an individual.

Screen time becomes problematic and parents should be alerted to digital media when:

• It is used as a coping strategy to deal with negative emotions
• consistently takes the place of social time and in person connection
• interferes with school and academic performance
• interferes with sleep and sleep habits
• becomes the basis of comparison for image and body image
• AI bots are used as a companion and for ongoing mental health advice
• there is a significant decrease or minimal quality family time
• increased signs of depression, anxiety, aggression or withdrawal

It is recommended to pay particular attention if a child or teen has more difficulty with emotion regulation, impulsivity, has been diagnosed with ADHD, an autism spectrum disorder, or experienced loneliness or a fear of missing out as they may have a greater likelihood of experiencing problematic internet use.

Recommended Guidelines for Usage and Balance:

• Consider family use of digital media and how it is manifested in daily life. Make time for direct and uninterrupted parent-child and family interaction.
• Gaming and media entertainment are a reward or activity after other important activities have been completed.
• Educate yourself on the content children are consuming and parental controls.
• Establish a sensible family screen time plan with guidance from respected organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics.
• As developmentally appropriate, communicate and educate children and teens on aspects of digital media such as personal safety, algorithms, negative content, and how to respond to peers who are promoting unhealthy behaviors or content. Keep communication ongoing.
• Ensure a balance of activities during the day and week that include:
  • Healthy and consistent eating and sleeping habits
  • Exercise, play, and physical movement
  • Social connection, time for conversation, and interaction
  • Appropriate time for learning and education
  • Recognition, support and connection when something is challenging, upsetting or difficult which allows for problem solving and support within the family and close social circle.
  • Time with nature, spirituality

• Proposed gaming time limits for children have included 30 minutes for kids under 6 years of age, and no more than 60 minutes on school days and 2 hours on weekends for kids over 6 years of age.

• For very young children (toddlers and preschoolers):
  • Limit time per day to short amounts (i.e. 20 minutes) and interact with them while they are engaging in screentime as much as possible.
  • Provide an overall limit of time spent up to an hour per day.
  • Choose content that is interactive, allowing them to respond, swipe, and talk rather than sit passively.
  • Choose content that sends positive messages about growth, development and social interactions.

Apps for parental controls managing appropriate content and usage:

• Qustodio
• Bark
• Aura
• Google Family Link

Helpful Resources and References

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (June 2025). Screen Time and Children No. 54; https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Children-And-Watching-TV-054.aspx

Bader Chaarani,  Joseph Ortigara,  DeKang Yuan, et al. (2022). Association of Video Gaming with Cognitive Performance Among Children. Original Investigation, Pediatrics, 2022;5;(10):e2235721. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.35721

Child Mind Institute. (2026, February 3). Healty Limits on Video Games: How to Prevent (Or Overcome) Problems with Gaming. https://childmind.org/article/healthy-limits-on-video-games/

Child Mind Institute. (2026, February 20). How Using Social Media Affects Teenagers. https://childmind.org/article/how-using-social-media-affects-teenagers/

Child Mind Institute. (2026, June 15). Can Screen Time Be Educational For Toddlers? https://childmind.org/article/value-screen-time-toddlers-preschoolers/

Kevin Y Xu, Tiffany Tedrick, Jessica A Gold. Screen Use and Social Media “Addiction” in the Era of TikTok: What Generalists Should Know Mo Med The Journal of Missouri State Medical Association. 2023 Nov-Dec;120(6):440–445

Samantha Teague, Klaire Somoray, Adrian Shatte, et al.  Digital Media Use and Child Health and Development A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Pediatrics, Published Online: March 9, 2026;180;(5):510-517. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2026.0085

Subhranshu Sekhar Kar , Rajani Dube, Bellary Kuruba Manjunatha Goud, Qonitah Syadida Gibrata, Adlen Adnan El-Balbissi, Tasnimm Ahmad Al Salim, Rand Nedal Mohammad Al Khaled Fatayerji: Impact of Screen Time in Development of Children 2025. Children, 12(10), 1297 doi: 10.3390/children12101297

Sudheer Kumar Muppalla, Sravya Vuppalapati, Apeksha Reddy Pulliahgaru, Himabindu Sreenivasulu:  Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Child Development: An Updated Review and Strategies for Management. Cureus Journal for Medical Science 2023; June 18;15(6) DOI: 10.7759/cureus.40608

Tyler Prochnow¹, Rithanya Senthil², Allison Poulos , Meg S Patterson, Jamilia Blake, Philip Massey, (2025). Virtual Bonds; Real Emotions: Systematic Review Exploring Online Social Connections and Adolescent Mental Health. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking 2025; Oct 28(10):658-671. doi: 10.1177/21522715251377377.

Zablotsky B, Ng AE, Black LI, Haile G, Bose J, Jones JR, et al. Associations Between Screen Time Use and Health Outcomes Among US Teenagers. Preventing Chronic Dis 2025; 22: 240537. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd22.240537.

Dr. Tish Taylor is a licensed psychologist and author.  She has a private practice in the Kansas City area specializing in clinical assessment and the mental health treatment of children and adolescents. She has authored Parenting ADHD with Wisdom and Grace and Fostering Connection. www.tishtaylor.com