NSPCC tips on young screens

The NSPCC is urging parents of young children to treat screens as one part of the day, not the default, and to build limits into everyday routines. (thetelegraphandargus.co.uk) In advice highlighted this week, the charity backed government guidance that children under five should spend no more than one hour a day on screens. Debra Radford, assistant director for NSPCC Yorkshire, said early childhood is a key period for building habits around technology. (thetelegraphandargus.co.uk) The NSPCC’s own guidance for under-fives says technology is now part of daily life, with many young children using shared devices for videos or simple games. It tells parents to choose age-appropriate content, use devices together where possible, and keep online time balanced with other activities. (nspcc.org.uk) The charity’s practical advice centers on replacement, not just restriction: books, play, conversation, and family routines in place of passive screen use. Its wider online wellbeing guidance also tells parents to manage what children watch, who they interact with, and how long they stay online. (thetelegraphandargus.co.uk) (nspcc.org.uk) That approach lines up with World Health Organization guidance published in 2019 for children under five. The WHO said one-year-olds should have no sedentary screen time, while children aged two to four should have no more than one hour a day, with less described as better. (who.int 1) (who.int 2) The WHO guidance ties screen limits to a full 24-hour pattern of health, including active play, sleep, and less time sitting still. It says young children need more floor-based play, movement and rest, rather than long stretches restrained in seats, prams, or in front of screens. (who.int) British health services give similar advice on the day-to-day effects of screen use. NHS-linked guidance says children learn language best through talking, listening, and taking turns with adults, and warns that screens before bed can delay sleep by disrupting the body clock and melatonin release. (bedslutonchildrenshealth.nhs.uk) (library.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk) The NSPCC is not telling parents to remove devices entirely. Its age-based advice says families should decide what is right for a child’s stage, use parental controls where needed, and keep checking whether technology is helping or displacing sleep, play, and face-to-face time. (nspcc.org.uk 1) (nspcc.org.uk 2) For parents of under-fives, the message is a simple one: set a routine, watch together, and make room for books, play and conversation before screens fill the gaps. (thetelegraphandargus.co.uk)