Ages 4 to 7 sit on the border between two sets of guidelines: the WHO writes separately for children under 5 and for 5 to 17-year-olds, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for 2 to 5-year-olds and for children 6 and older. Here is what they say, with sources.
WHO: ages 3 to 4
According to the WHO's 2019 guidelines, a child aged 3 to 4 should:
- be physically active for at least 180 minutes a day in a variety of ways, of which at least 60 minutes is moderate to vigorous;
- have no more than 1 hour of sedentary screen time a day – and less is better;
- get 10 to 13 hours of good-quality sleep, which may include a nap, with regular sleep and wake-up times.
WHO: from age 5
The WHO's 2020 guidelines recommend that 5 to 17-year-olds do at least an average of 60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity across the week, and that they limit sedentary time, particularly recreational screen time. They give no number of hours for this age group: the evidence was not enough to set a precise cut-off.
AAP: ages 2 to 5
The AAP's 2016 policy statement "Media and Young Minds" says that for ages 2 to 5:
- screen use should be limited to 1 hour a day of high-quality programming;
- parents should watch or play together with their child, help them understand what they see and apply it to the world around them;
- fast-paced programmes, apps with lots of distracting content, and violent content are best avoided.
AAP: from age 6
From age 6, the AAP gives no number but recommends consistent limits: on the time spent with media and on the types of media, so that screens don't take the place of sleep, physical activity and other things essential to health. It also suggests media-free times together, such as dinner or driving, and media-free places at home, such as bedrooms.
In practice
| Age | Screens | Activity | Sleep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3–4 (WHO) | at most 1 hour sedentary screen time, less is better | at least 180 minutes, 60 of them vigorous | 10–13 hours |
| 2–5 (AAP) | at most 1 hour of high-quality content, together | – | – |
| 5 and over (WHO) | limited recreational screen time | an average of at least 60 minutes vigorous | – |
| 6 and over (AAP) | consistent limits, media-free times and places | – | – |
A few simple habits fit every one of these:
- Decide in advance how much time there is, not in the heat of the moment.
- Make it shared as much as you can: six habits for screen time together.
- Have something to take its place when time's up: an active game, a story.
In Teki, you set the daily screen time: 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes, or no limit. When it's up, Teki suggests something to play together instead. How Teki works
Sources
- To grow up healthy, children need to sit less and play more – WHO, 24 April 2019 (read 24 September 2026)
- Chaput, J.-P. et al. (2020): 2020 WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour for children and adolescents aged 5–17 years: summary of the evidence – PMC (read 24 September 2026)
- Media and Young Minds – AAP, Pediatrics 138(5), 2016 (read 24 September 2026)
- American Academy of Pediatrics Announces New Recommendations for Children's Media Use – AAP press release, 21 October 2016 (Newswise) (read 24 September 2026)
