Why too much screen time is harmful (what the evidence says)

• Language & social development: More screen time in the early years is linked with delays in expressive speech and fewer adult-child conversations—the single biggest driver of language growth. One longitudinal Australian study estimated toddlers hear ~1,000 fewer adult words per day on high-screen-time days; earlier cohort work also tied handheld screen use in <2s to higher odds of speech delay.  
• Sleep: Using interactive screens in bed is associated with shorter sleep duration and poorer sleep; content and engagement appear more disruptive than just “blue light,” but evening device use still correlates with worse sleep health in children and teens. Practical takeaway: keep devices out of bedrooms and off after dinner.  
• Physical health & weight: Multiple systematic reviews show higher daily screen time is associated with greater risk of overweight/obesity in children and adolescents, partly via sedentary behavior and snacking.  
• Learning displacement: Time on screens often crowds out play, reading, outdoor activity, and parent-child interactions that drive executive function and school readiness. The AAP emphasizes play as essential for social-emotional, cognitive, and language development.  

How much screen time? Clear, age-based guidelines

Birth–11 months

• Recommendation: No screen time (video-chatting with family is OK).
• Sources: WHO; Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines; AAP.  

12–23 months

• Recommendation: Aim for no screen time; if used, extremely limited, high-quality, and co-viewed with an adult.
• Sources: WHO (avoid sedentary screen time for 1-year-olds); AAP (avoid <18 months except video chat; 18–24 months only high-quality, co-viewed).  

2–5 years

• Recommendation: ≤ 1 hour/day of high-quality, co-viewed content; less is better.
• Sources: WHO (≤1h for ages 2–4); AAP; Australian guidance echoes limiting screen time and prioritising active play/sleep.  

5–12 years (primary school age)

• Recommendation (Australia): ≤ 2 hours/day recreational screen time; prioritize sleep (9–12 hours), physical activity, and homework.
• Sources: Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines (5–17s); NSW Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.  

13–18 years

• Recommendation: No universal cap; set consistent family limits so screens don’t crowd out sleep, physical activity, schoolwork, and in-person time. Teach critical, safe use (especially social media).
• Sources: AAP “Where We Stand” and updated guidance emphasizing quality/“5 Cs” and a Family Media Plan.  

Good practice at any age (quick wins)

• Keep devices out of bedrooms and off 1–2 hours before bed; avoid “in-bed” use entirely.  
• Co-view with young kids; talk about what you’re watching.  
• Use an AAP Family Media Plan and pick high-quality content.  

Why Wondertivity Busy Books are an excellent alternative

• They restore what screens displace: Unstructured, hands-on play is singled out by the AAP as essential to build executive function, self-regulation, language, and social-emotional skills. Quiet books invite exactly this kind of imaginative, parent-child, and peer play.  
• Fine-motor & problem-solving: Manipulating zips, buttons, laces, and pieces develops dexterity, bilateral coordination, and sequencing—skills digital taps don’t train. (This aligns with the AAP’s call for real-world, exploratory play.)  
• Richer language moments: Shared play prompts more back-and-forth talk (“serve the pizza,” “match the color,” “what comes next?”), counteracting the reduced conversational turns seen with high screen exposure.  
• Sleep-friendly & calming: Because they’re tactile and non-backlit, Busy Books suit wind-down routines and on-the-go moments (cars, waiting rooms) without the arousal/sleep costs of devices.  

Fast starter plan for families

• Under 5s: Make Wondertivity your default for calm moments (coffee, cooking, pram rides). Keep total screen time ≤1 h/day (2–4s) and co-view.  
• Primary years: Use Busy Books for after-school decompression and pre-bed. Cap recreational screens at ≤2 h/day and keep devices out of bedrooms.  
• Tweens/teens: Pair a Family Media Plan with screen-free “anchors” (dinner, bedtime). Keep a Busy Book or hands-on activity kit visible as an easy alternative.