How much screen time should my toddler have?

How much screen time should my toddler have?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 2 have no screen time at all and for children between 2 and 3 years of age to have between 30 to 60 minutes at the maximum.

The challenge to screen time is to remember that you need to be familiar with the content of the material you are exposing your child to and to be sure you make a conscious effort to turn off the screen when you the time you have allotted is up and if your toddler has lost interest. Try not to use screen time as a distraction for feeding your toddler; this can backfire and lead to poorer food habits later on with your child.

Most important, don’t beat yourself up if you have used the screen as a helper once in a while, like sometimes as a way to go to the bathroom, just try to limit it as best you can.

Marsha Greenberg M.S., M.S. W

Marsha is a therapist in New York City. She is the author of the newly released book, Raising Your Toddler, by Globe Pequot Press. She has masters degrees in Child and Family Development and Social Work from the University of Michigan. As the Director of the Health Systems Child Care Program for over 14 years, she was responsible for over 250 children between the ages of 6 weeks and 6 years of age. Marsha teaches in the Early Childhood Special Education department at NYU and has a private psychotherapy practice in NYC. Marsha is the mother of three grown sons and has three grandsons (aged 4 and 18 months and 4 months) with a new grandchild on the way.