Ask any parent, guardian or carer and they will tell you the early years of a child’s life are the most precious.
They are filled with never to be repeated moments of joy, connection and discovery: Their first steps, learning to ride a bike, starting school.
These are all significant and often emotional events, which stay with us for the rest of our lives.
I doubt, though, many of us would look to our partners, friends or family members and sigh fondly: “Do you remember when they got their first smartphone?” And yet, for today’s parents, screens – be they phones, iPads, laptops or TVs – are an unavoidable part of childhood.
Almost every two-year-old now watches a screen every day.
For many families, they are woven into the tapestry of daily life: at home, on the move, even at mealtimes. That reality can feel overwhelming, unstoppable.
Even worse, parents are bombarded with conflicting advice about what is right, what is harmful, and where to draw the line. It is no surprise nearly a quarter of parents of three to five-year-olds say they struggle to manage their child’s screen time.
But let me be crystal clear: this is not about telling parents how to raise their children. It is not about a nanny state stepping in. It is about recognising that modern parenting comes with modern pressures, and making sure families are supported, not judged, as they navigate them.
That is why we are publishing, for the first time, clear, evidence-informed guidance for parents and carers of children under five.
Based on the findings of leading experts and the Children’s Commissioner, it offers practical, common-sense advice to help families build healthy habits from the earliest years.
The advice is simple. For children under two, screens should be avoided except for shared activities that encourage interaction, such as video calls with family.
For two to five-year-olds, we advise limiting screen time to around an hour a day, avoiding screens at mealtimes and in the hour before bed.
But just as important as how much screen time children have is how they use it. Not all screen time is equal.
Watching together, talking, asking questions: these moments can support learning and development as well as being invaluable bonding time. By contrast, long periods spent alone on fast-paced, social media-style content can crowd out the activities that matter most: sleep, play, movement and human connection.
We also know this isn’t just about children. Many parents will recognise their own relationship with screens in this conversation too. Building healthier habits is something we can all work on, together. Myself included.
This guidance is not about perfection. It is about small, realistic changes: reading a bedtime story instead of watching a video, playing a simple boardgame, or switching off screens a little earlier in the evening.
These moments together matter. They help children develop the language, social and emotional skills they need to thrive. And we are making sure support is there if and when families need it.
The guidance will be available online and through our new Best Start Family Hubs, opening across the country, where parents can access advice, services and community support in one place.
Because giving every child the best start in life means backing the parents and carers doing their best for them.
In a world where screens are here to stay, we cannot and should not try to turn back the digital clock, but we can help families find the right balance – not through judgement or restrictions, but through support and understanding.
So when we look back on those early years, it is the moments of connection, not just the glow of a screen, that stay with us.
What is the new screen time guidance?
Parents of under-fives will be advised by the Government to keep meals and bedtimes screen-free to ensure children are not addicted to mobile phones and tablets from an early age. The guidance, on the Best Start in Life website , offers tips including:
Under-twos: Avoid screen time other than for shared activities that encourage bonding, interaction and conversation. Two to five-year-olds: Try to keep screen time to no more than one hour a day. Avoid at mealtimes and in the hour before bed. Content: Choose slow-paced, age-appropriate content. Fast-paced, social media-style videos and AI toys or tools should be avoided for young children. Co-viewing: Watching or using screens together – talking, asking questions, and engaging with the content – is better for children’s development than solo screen use.Hence then, the article about streeting don t let your child s memories be defined by screens was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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