Recently, Sweden released updated guidelines for screen use for children. According to Fortune, the guidelines state that children under the age of 2 should not have any time on screens. The new guidance from Sweden’s Public Health Agency suggests that children between the ages of 2 and 5 should have no more than an hour of screen time, including watching television, video chatting, and playing games on phones and tablets.
At ages 6 to 12, the daily amount of screen time should not exceed one to two hours, and for ages 13 to 16, Sweden advises no more than three daily hours of screen time. This is a dramatic reduction from the average six and a half hours daily Swedish teens are on screens “outside of school hours,” according to Fortune.
“For too long, smartphones and other screens have been allowed to enter every aspect of our children’s lives,” Public Health Minister Jakob Forssmed said in an announcement. He explained, “With these age-appropriate recommendations there is now an important support for children and young people, parents and other caregivers, for a more healthy, conscious and responsible use of screens and digital media.”
While many American parents might be surprised by the suggestion that babies and toddlers not be on screens at all, the guidance is prompted by data about the potentially harmful effects of screen time for developing infants. This is not data exclusive to the nation of Sweden, and the Swedish guidelines are commonsense limits that all nations should
