11th May 2026
UK Government publishes guidance on screen time for children under 5 years old.
Digital screens are a part of modern life, but finding the right balance between screen time and other activities for young children can be tricky. Therefore, the UK Government has recently created evidence informed guidance to support parents and carers in shaping healthy screen time habits for their children.
The UK Government recognises the need to balance the embracing of technology with promoting the health and development of younger children, so that they can thrive.
The guidance on screen time for under 5s is split into two age groups, under 2 years and 2 to 5 years, reflecting the developmental changes that happen quickly in a child’s early years. There is also specific advice for children with special educational needs and disabilities. The guidance is available on the Best Start in Life website and includes a link to the full expert-led summary of evidence report.
Similar guidance is currently being developed for children aged 5 to 16, which the government plans to publish in the Autumn
The UK Government’s Best Start in Life website has lots of useful advice and support for parents regarding children’s development, from pregnancy through to starting school, however some of the support is specific to England only, so parents living in Northern Ireland need to bear that in mind.
While the research for this guidance was carried out by the Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care in England the information will be relevant to parents and children all across the UK and may result in the NI Executive releasing further guidance which is specific to Northern Ireland.