What is the right screen time for my child?

Many scientific studies recommend no screens before age 3, and then only very limited use before age 6. These guidelines inspired us to gently and guilt‑free reconsider our relationship with screens, so we can guide our children in learning to use this important tool.

🌱 Let’s be their guides

As parents, we are their guides, and children first learn by imitation. We realized how often our phone was within reach… and how much it sometimes stole our attention. A ping — and immediately a glance. Yet we ask our children to wait their turn to speak. What an inconsistency, right?

So we made a simple, liberating choice: phones now have a dedicated place, on a high shelf in the entryway, with chargers ready. Standing, we quickly check messages, respond if needed, and move on. This limits scrolling and overall screen time. And I have to admit — this physical and mental distance from our screens has changed everything. We’ve rediscovered more present, authentic family moments. And we have no desire to go back.

🎬 Our children are active participants in their screen use

A clear framework

We established a loving, predictable framework: one movie night per week. Outside of that, no recreational screen time. This ritual has become a joyful and eagerly awaited moment.

We took some inspiration from the Nordic countries: in Sweden, there’s a true “candy day” Lördagsgodis, literally “Saturday candy”. The rest of the week — no candy. A playful and gentle way to manage sugar intake! So why not use the same principle to regulate screen use?

Children choose their program together — they don’t watch content passively. We advise them, and discussing the content is part of the ritual. When their interests differ (naturally, with different ages!), we offer an alternative: one watches their movie, while the other enjoys a special moment with the other parent.

Educational use

Screens can also become wonderful tools for discovery. Of course, our first instinct is still always to open a book. But sometimes a screen can spark curiosity: virtually visiting the International Space Station, listening to a bird’s song, or exploring a musical instrument from around the world. This educational use complements movie night: it lasts only a few minutes and always has a clear purpose.

Digital art

This isn’t about teaching our children to make TikTok videos 😉, but about showing the creative potential of digital tools. From age 6, our oldest explores digital painting with Procreate. One parent gently guides them through brushes and features. Again, the activity has a well‑defined framework: 30 minutes per week, roughly matching their concentration span. Later, we’ll introduce programming. Screens thus become a medium for expression and creativity, not just passive consumption.

✨ Wonder: the best counter to screens

A playful, stimulating environment at home

Limiting screens also means creating a play environment that nourishes children’s natural curiosity. For us, this means regularly rotating books and toys. Children grow quickly and need novelty, challenges, and varied sensory experiences — not just at Christmas or their birthday! To vary without overconsumption, consider toy rentals. This is the philosophy behind Lil’ Discoveries, a service for renting PlayKits. Each PlayKit, designed by age and theme, invites exploration: Nature, Space, Australia… every 2 months, children discover 5 carefully chosen educational toys to awaken curiosity and wonder.

Toys for every stage of development

We’ve noticed our children can play for long stretches, fully immersed in their world. Our oldest, age 7, still plays a lot — for her, play comes before screens. Each developmental stage opens a different play environment.

Around age 7, the transition to the “age of reason” deeply transforms how they play: they gravitate toward crafts, board games, large marble runs, or puzzles with over 100 pieces. Thoughtful guidance from parents at this crucial stage helps nurture their natural desire to play and prevents them from turning too quickly to screens.

Nature: the wonderful alternative to screens

Unlike the fast pace of screens, nature reconnects us to a slower rhythm, hugely beneficial for mental well‑being. It also offers infinite opportunities for exploration. But this vast playground can feel intimidating at first, which may limit free play.

In our family, we started organizing playful, educational forest outings, where we play, explore, discover, and marvel. The children return home exceptionally calm and happy. For inspiration, follow @lil.discoveries on Instagram or TikTok. And maybe you’ll think about your next forest outing with your family — standing in your entryway, phone in hand… before setting it down to fully enjoy the moment 💛