Home Device Guidelines

Managing children’s use of digital devices at home is an essential part of fostering healthy habits and ensuring their safety online.

Our guidelines are designed to support families in establishing clear boundaries, promoting responsible use, and balancing screen time with other important activities. By working together, we can help children develop the skills and discipline needed to use technology wisely and effectively.

Practical Tips for Device Management

Recommendations by Age

Age

Recommended Screen Time

Supervision Level

Content Restrictions

2 – 5 years

Up to 1 hour/day

Full supervision; parents choose all content.

Only parent-approved content allowed.

6 – 9 years

1 hour/day

Supervised in the same room.

Content restrictions limit choices to an approved set.

9 – 11 years

1 hour/day

Supervised in the same room.

Explicit content filtered; child allowed limited choices.

11 – 13 years

1.5 – 2 hours/day

Supervised in the same room.

Explicit content filtered; limited choices allowed with agreements (e.g., social media use).

13 – 16 years

2 – 2.5 hours/day

May use devices in their own room for reasonable periods.

Restrictions managed via social contract; parents retain password access.

16 – 18 years

2 – 3 hours/day

Independent use with social contracts in place.

No restrictions unless contracts are violated, allowing re-enablement of filters if needed.

Helpful Resources on Age Limits for Apps
Explore these external websites for guidance on app age limits and the reasoning behind them:

Key Recommendation: Most social media apps recommend a minimum age of 13 years or older. Children younger than this may encounter situations they are not yet cognitively prepared to handle.

Setting Restrictions

Setting Time Limits

Recommended Times: Time limits are based on common consensus but should align with your family’s situation.

Key Points

Times apply to all devices combined (not per device), including during travel to/from school.
Set hard limits for "consumption" use, and avoid negotiating daily; instead, adjust limits annually (e.g., add 15 minutes per birthday).

Distinguishing Screen Time Types

It is important to differentiate between screen time for “Consumption” and “Production” activities.
Consumption use includes passive activities like watching videos or playing non-educational games, which should adhere to set time limits.
Production use involves creating, learning, or interacting with age-appropriate educational content. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines do not count production activities as screen time, as explained below.

Having a Say in the Method of Use

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines

American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines

The AAP provides the following recommendations for healthy media use based on age:

Children Under 18 Months:
Avoid screen media use except for video chatting.
Children 18 – 24 Months:
If introducing digital media, select high-quality programming and co-view with your child to help them understand what they’re seeing.
Children Ages 2 – 5 Years:
Limit screen use to 1 hour per day of high-quality programs. Parents should co-view media to help children make connections with the world around them.
Children Ages 6 and Older:
- Set consistent limits on screen time and media types.
- Ensure media does not replace essential activities like sleep, exercise, and family interaction.
- Designate media-free times (e.g., during dinner or while driving) and media-free locations at home (e.g., bedrooms).
- Encourage ongoing discussions about online citizenship and safety, including respect for others both online and offline.

Source: https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/American-Academy-of-Pediatrics-Announces-New-Recommendations-for-Childrens-Media-Use.aspx

Types of Screen Use

Consumption (Passive)

Screen time limits are recommended for activities like:

Watching YouTube
Social media (e.g., Instagram, chat apps)
Gaming (e.g., Fortnite)

Production (Active)

Active screen use is beneficial for learning and creativity and is best managed using family norms (e.g., no devices at the table).

Collaborating with classmates on Google apps
Typing assignments
Video or image editing
Coding

Contacts

If you need further guidance or have questions about managing device use at home, please don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance.

Scott Hall

Head of Digital Learning

Aesch

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In this section

Submenu

Home Device Guidelines

Practical Tips for Device Management

Recommendations by Age

Setting Restrictions

Setting Time Limits

Key Points

Distinguishing Screen Time Types

Having a Say in the Method of Use

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines

American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines

Types of Screen Use

Consumption (Passive)

Production (Active)

Contacts

Scott Hall