Through evidence-based research the AAP has developed these age recommendations for media use. Every family’s relationship with media is different, use these recommendations to help create your own media plan that best fits you and your family.

For more information visit www.aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/

Ages 0 to 2 years:

• Avoid media until 18 months with the exception of video chatting with family and loved ones.
• Learning through hands-on activities and caregiver interactions is vital at this age.
• If media is introduced at 18 months, limit media use and choose high-quality programming. Co-use media with your child, making connections to their real world.
• Excessive media use at this age can impede development.
  

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Ages 2 to 5 years:

• Limit media to no more than one hour a day.
• Choose media that is high-quality and developmentally appropriate.
• Co-view and co-use media with your child.
• Have conversations about the media you and your child are interacting with.
  

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Ages 5 to 18:

• “It Depends” – At this age the type and usage of media vary widely and depend on your child and family.
• Create a media plan that respects your child’s needs and interests while promoting well-being.
• Actively select and co-view or co-use media with your child.
• Foster conversations about media content, online safety, and cyber security.
• Have conversations about the media you and your child are interacting with.
  

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You can create a media plan based on these recommendations that works for your family’s specific needs at www.HealthyChildren.org/MediaUsePlan

Media changes so quickly that it’s hard to find a single reliable resource for quality content, and you know your child’s needs best! The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh recommends that you C.H.E.C.K.* the media your child engages with to ensure its appropriateness for your child and family.

C – Co-Viewing/Co-Using: Does the media allow you to co-view or co-use with your child? Will you talk about the media together, during or after use?

H – Healthy: Is media use interfering with healthy activities such as sleep, exercise and in-person socializing? Is your child’s media use linked to obsessive or addictive behaviors or negative feelings?

E – Engaging: Does the content and/or format foster social interaction, learning, critical thinking, and communication?

C – Commercial: Is the media free from aggressive marketing or inappropriate ads?

K – Kid-Friendly: What is the media age rating?  Have you pre-viewed or are you able to co-view the content? Is it appropriate for your individual child? Have you enabled parental controls?

*The C.H.E.C.K. acronym was developed by compiling recommendations from multiple sources, including those listed in this guide.