Calculator
Screen time check by age
See how your family’s screen time compares with pediatric guidance for your child’s age, plus easy movement swaps from our therapists’ home programs.
Free from Oaklin Lane’s therapists. Nothing here is a diagnosis, and if something feels off, that’s enough to ask.
How it works
Pick your child’s age, then use the plus and minus buttons to enter about how much screen time they get on a school day and a weekend day. Tap any habits that fit, like screens at dinner or before bed. You’ll see your weekly total, how it compares with guidance for that age, and three easy swaps.
What the guidance says
- Under 18 months: video chats with family are great; other screen time is best skipped.
- 18 to 24 months: if you use screens, pick high-quality shows and watch together.
- 2 to 5 years: about one hour a day of high-quality shows, ideally watched together.
- 6 years and up: steady family limits that protect sleep, active play, homework and meals together.
Why movement swaps help
Pushing, pulling, climbing and jumping help kids feel calm and organized. The swaps in this tool come straight from the home programs our occupational and physical therapists give families.
Based on American Academy of Pediatrics guidance. A guide, not a rulebook.
Questions families ask
How much screen time is OK for a 3-year-old?
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests about one hour a day of high-quality shows for kids 2 to 5, ideally watched together.
Do video calls count as screen time?
Video chats with family are different. They’re interactive, so they’re fine even for babies.
What are easy alternatives to screens?
Animal walks, pillow crashes, play dough, sensory bins and helping with chores. Our free Home Programs Handbook has dozens of ideas.
Can too much screen time affect speech?
Screens can take the place of back-and-forth talking and play, which is how kids learn language. If you’re concerned about your child’s talking, try our speech and language checklist.
