In 2016, Nursery World reported that the Council on Communications and Media of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended zero screen time for children younger than 18 months, and no more than one hour per day for children aged two to five.
The move was, in part, a preventative measure against obesity and sleep disruption, though the AAP also stressed that screen time must not be prioritised over opportunities for reading aloud, exercise, social interaction, play and sleep, and should be limited only to high-quality digital content.
Although last year the World Health Organization (WHO) echoed this advice, it is important to note that some UK experts, such as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, defended families who may exceed these recommendations due to cramped housing, work patterns, stress and other factors, for whom ‘striving for perfect could become the enemy of good’.
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