Good & Bad Screen Time for Kids: What Is It and How Can It Affect Your Child?

Screens are everywhere - from tablets & TVs to smartwatches - and our children are growing up surrounded by them. While screen time can be enriching and educational, it also brings risks when overused or mismanaged.

Understanding the difference between good and bad screen time, and knowing how much is too much, is crucial for helping children grow up healthy, engaged, and balanced.

What Is Good Screen Time?

Good screen time refers to digital activities that promote learning, creativity, and positive social interaction. It’s not just about keeping kids busy - it’s about making sure the content they engage with supports their development.

1. Educational Content

   Apps, videos, and games that teach reading, maths, science, and problem-solving are great tools. Platforms like Khan Academy and interactive e-books can boost a child’s curiosity and knowledge.

   According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, interactive apps and e-books can build early literacy and foster attention in young children (CPS, 2022).

2. Creative Tools

   Drawing apps, music programs, and even child-friendly coding platforms (like Scratch) encourage children to use screens as a tool for making, not just watching. Creative tools help kids explore ideas, build confidence, and express themselves.

   Check out Story Spark’s digital story library for child-led storytelling ideas that promote literacy and imagination.

3. Social Connections

   Video calls with family, collaborative games, and classroom platforms help children stay socially engaged. When monitored and age-appropriate, these tools can enhance communication and empathy.

4. Moderate, Supervised Use

   When screen time is shared with parents or caregivers - watching together, co-playing, or discussing content - it becomes more meaningful and safe.

What Is Bad Screen Time?

Bad screen time includes activities that are passive, excessive, unmonitored, or inappropriate. It can harm physical, emotional, and cognitive development, especially when it replaces physical play, sleep, or social interaction.

1. Overuse

   Even educational content can become problematic when consumed for hours on end. Long sessions can lead to issues like eye strain, poor posture, and disrupted sleep.

2. Inappropriate Content

   Unfiltered access to violent, aggressive, or adult-themed material can negatively impact mental health and behaviour. Social media platforms without supervision can expose kids to cyberbullying or comparison-based anxiety.

3. Passive Consumption

   Watching hours of unengaging content - such as autoplayed videos or idle scrolling - offers little educational or emotional value. Children aren’t interacting or thinking critically; they’re just zoning out.

4. Lack of Supervision

   Leaving children alone with screens, especially younger ones, increases the risk of exposure to harmful content. Parental involvement is key to context, safety, and support.

How Much Screen Time Is Too Much?

What is a healthy amount of screen time for my child?

The World Health Organization (WHO) advises "Children 2–4 years of age should have no more than 1 hour of sedentary screen time; less is better. For children under 2 years, screen time is not recommended." WHO, 2019.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) recommends: 

• Under 2 years: no screen time, except for video chatting
• 2–5 years: no more than 1 hour of high-quality screen time per day
• 6 years and older: consistent limits; screen time should not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or real-world interaction

Common Effects of Too Much Screen Time

i. Physical Health

Long periods of screen use are linked to sedentary behaviour, which can lead to obesity, repetitive strain injuries, poor posture, and sleep disruption due to blue light exposure.

ii. Mental Health

Heavy screen use - especially passive consumption - can contribute to low mood, anxiety, and poor self-esteem. Children exposed to idealised images on social media may also develop negative self-image.

iii. Cognitive Impact

Children may become reliant on digital stimulation and struggle with focus, problem-solving, and creativity outside of screens.

iv. Social Skills

Too much solo screen time can limit face-to-face interaction, affecting empathy, communication, and conflict resolution skills.

Practical Tips to Reduce Screen Time

i. Set Boundaries

Create house rules around screen use - no screens at meals, in bedrooms, or during family time. Be consistent.

ii. Offer Alternatives

Encourage physical activity, reading, creative play, or nature walks. Having non-screen options readily available helps.

iii. Be a Role Model

Your habits matter. Children copy adults, so show them how to enjoy life beyond a screen.

iv. Use Parental Controls

Take advantage of settings that limit time or filter content. Many apps and devices let you monitor your child’s usage.

v. Co-View or Co-Play

Watch shows or play games together. Talk about the story or the challenge - it makes the experience more interactive and connected.

Final Thought: It’s About Balance

Screens aren’t the enemy but unlimited or unsupervised screen time can be.

It’s all about quality over quantity. Use digital tools for learning, creativity, and connection - and make sure there’s plenty of time offline too.

Want a screen activity that promotes reading and imagination? Explore Story Spark’s story collection, instantly generate a story, or personalize a beautiful hardback book and see how storytelling can support, inspire, and empower every reader.