Screens are everywhere — but how much is too much for your child?
Children today grow up surrounded by screens — phones, tablets, TVs, and computers. In the United States, kids aged 8–18 spend an average of 7.5 hours a day in front of screens. While screens can educate, connect, and entertain, too much screen time — or the wrong kind — can lead to sleep, mood, or learning problems.
Finding balance can be hard, especially when screens are part of everyday life, even with helpful guidelines for different ages. The key is not only how much time kids spend, but also what content they consume. By choosing good content and setting limits, parents can help their children use screens in a healthy manner. Age-appropriate educational programs like Sesame Street’s Early Learning Videos For Children, learning apps, and programs can be beneficial and enriching, or Stories with Clever Hedgehog — can nurture curiosity and learning when used mindfully.
How much screen time is okay for your child?
If you are afraid that screen time can take away from the valuable play and social time children need, make sure the balance of screen time and “real-time” is right for your family! Managing a child’s screen time is challenging, so keep in mind these tips when thinking of a screen-time plan for your family:
Birth to 2 Years
👶 Before 18 months of age – using screens is not recommended. Limit screen use to video chatting along with an adult (for example, with a parent who is out of town).
👶 Between 18 – 24 months – screen time should be limited to watching educational programming with a caregiver. Remember: little ones learn best through real-life play, not just watching.
💕 There’s no substitute for you! Use screens together.
🧸 Choose calm, slow-paced apps that don’t overstimulate.
🚼 Keep a healthy balance between active play and screen use.
💕 Be a role model: put down your phone when you’re with your child.
3 to 8 Years:
👦 For children 2-5 у.о. – limit non-educational screen time to about 1 hour per weekday and 3 hours on the weekend days.
Avoid using screens as pacifiers, babysitters, or to stop tantrums.
👧 For ages 6 and older – encourage healthy habits and limit activities that include screens.
🥄Turn off all screens during family meals and outings.
🌙 Turn off screens 30 min – 1 hour before bedtime for better sleep.
✨ Check the content of the sites your child asks to see or play on to make sure it is accurate and appropriate.
📖 Read ebooks together! Screen time can be learning time when it’s shared.
🎁 Offer tradeoffs: use screen time as an earned reward for other activities like finishing chores, going outside, or playing with siblings and friends.
💕 And again — be a role model! Put down your phone. Kids copy your habits.
There’s No Substitute for You
Children learn best through play, creativity, and connection with parents. Screens can support learning — but they should never replace your time together.
Stories with Clever Hedgehog is here — to make every minute of screen time safe, creative, and educational. Our online library is completely free, ad-free, and expert-curated — full of bilingual ebooks, games, coloring pages, and printable projects that encourage active learning and family bonding.
The key is not only how much time kids spend, but also what content they consume. By choosing good content and setting limits, parents can help their children use screens in a healthy manner.
Explore our growing collection of free downloadable content
🎨 Free printable activities: coloring pages, puzzles, and cut-and-glue craft projects, and PDF printables for kids
🧠 Free printable learning resources: learn songs to sing together, active games to play with family and friends
📘 Fairy tales in English and Ukrainian: read together or listen with narration
Every ebook and activity is designed to support healthy development, curiosity, and emotional growth — while helping parents create meaningful, off-screen and screen-smart routines at home.
New stories are continually added to Clever Hedgehog’s Library, which is a collection of free, illustrated e-books created to promote children’s learning in fun ways for different ages.
These e-books are available in English and Ukrainian, with narration in a variety of languages. A narration feature enables non-readers to enjoy the books when “reading” alone. The e-books encompass many subjects and interests that are developmentally appropriate for children, such as fairy tales and topics that highlight navigating new spaces, languages, and cultures.
Dive into our recommendations and discover how the magic of reading can nurture your child’s growth in these essential areas!
DIY Books by Clever Hedgehog
Tiny DIY books that bring pleasure. Download for free!
Each fairy tale has one. Collect them all!
You will need: printer*, scissors, glue, pencils (if you don’t have a printer – try drawing a fairy tale).
Download and print out* the picture; color, cut out, and assemble according to the photo instructions:
Clever Hedgehog’s Library Special Feature On Children’s Books Dedicated To Early Speech And Emotional Development
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