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Screen time and digital technology use: part of a healthy lifestyle

Screen time and digital technology use are part of life for most children and teenagers. The time your child spends watching TV and using computers, gaming consoles, smart toys, tablets and smartphones can be part of a healthy lifestyle.

You can help your child use digital technology in a balanced way as part of a healthy lifestyle by encouraging your child to:

  • have fun and learn while using screens
  • use, watch or play good-quality apps, games, TV, movies and online videos
  • be safe and protect their data and privacy online
  • have healthy posture when using screens, be physically active and get the sleep they need
  • spend social time with family and friends online and offline
  • be actively involved in a variety of hobbies and interests, including reading and creative activities.

Current national and international guidelines recommend that children under 2 years don’t have screen time other than video-chatting.

Healthy screen time and digital technology use: tips

It’s OK to have questions or concerns about whether your family has a healthy and balanced approach to screen time and digital technology use. The articles below have tips to help.

Balanced screen time and digital technology use

  • Screen time and digital technology use for children 2-5 years: tips for balance
  • Screen time and digital technology use for children 6-11 years: tips for balance
  • Teenage screen time and digital technology use: tips for balance
  • Parents, screen time and digital technology use: role-modelling for children

Healthy and responsible screen time and digital technology use

  • Screen time, digital technology use and your family: a healthy approach
  • Screen time and digital technology use: how it affects child and teenage sleep
  • Healthy posture for children’s screen time: in pictures
  • Healthy posture for pre-teen and teenage screen time: in pictures
  • Healthy video gaming for children and teenagers
  • Digital citizenship: teens being responsible online

Quality content

  • Good apps, games, TV, movies and online videos for children: 2-5 years
  • Good apps, games, TV, movies and online videos for children: 6-11 years
  • Good apps, games, TV, movies and social media videos: teenagers
  • Video games, online games and apps: children and teenagers

Benefits of screen time and digital technology use

  • Sharing screen time and digital technology with children and pre-teens
  • Using screen time and digital technology for physical activity: children and pre-teens
  • Using screen time and digital technology for learning: children and pre-teens
  • Using screen time and digital technology to socialise: children and teenagers
  • Social media benefits and risks: pre-teens and teenagers
  • Sharing screen time and digital technology with children 3-6 years: activities

Online safety

  • Internet safety: children 3-5 years
  • Internet safety: children 6-8 years
  • Internet safety: children 9-11 years
  • Internet safety: teenagers

Problems with screen time and digital technology use

  • Managing screen time and digital technology use: children 3-11 years
  • Managing screen time and digital technology use: teenagers
  • Physical problems from screen time and digital technology use: children and teenagers
  • Video gaming problems and video gaming addiction: pre-teens and teenagers
  • Gambling: pre-teens and teenagers

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  • Department of Social Services

Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

Member Organisations

  • Parenting Research Centre
  • The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute

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