The UK Government has published national guidance on screen use for children under five. The advice follows a review of evidence and input from over 1,000 parents. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that parenting in a digital world involves conflicting advice and that the government aims to provide clear tips for healthy habits.

Children typically start using screens around nine months of age. By age two, average daily screen time reaches 127 minutes. This exceeds the recommended maximum of one hour for ages two to five by more than double. Only 34 percent of toddlers stay within the one-hour limit.

Under twos should avoid screens except for shared video calls. For ages two to five, use should not surpass one hour daily. Screens must be kept away from mealtimes and the hour before bed. Content needs to be age-appropriate and slow-paced, with adult involvement preferred.

High screen use links to children hearing up to 1,000 fewer words daily due to reduced interaction. Toddlers in the highest use group, around five hours per day, recognize 53 percent of test vocabulary. Those within guidelines recognize 65 percent.

Disparities appear across households. Children in lowest-income homes average 179 minutes daily, compared to 97 minutes in highest-income groups. Children of caregivers with depression average 182 minutes, versus 135 minutes for others.

Twenty-four percent of parents of three- to five-year-olds report difficulty controlling screen time. The guidance excludes rigid limits for assistive technologies used by children with special educational needs. Ninety percent of brain development occurs before age five.