How much screen time should my teenager have?
There's no official daily limit for teenagers. The HSE and other bodies focus on sleep, activity and balance instead. Here's what that means and how to agree limits your teen will actually keep.
By age
Screen time
13 articles
Talking and rules
Should my child's phone stay out of the bedroom at night?
Most online safety and family media experts say yes: charge it in another room. How to agree the rule without a row, what to do about alarms and music, and the iPhone and Android settings that back it up.
Off-screen ideas
How can I help my teenager find a hobby that isn't on a screen?
Let them lead, lower the stakes and use what's already near you: youth clubs, Scouts, Gaisce and local sport. Practical ideas for getting a teenager into something off-screen without a row.
By age
How much screen time should my 6 to 12-year-old have?
The HSE's screen time advice gives no single daily number for children aged 6 and over. It asks for a balance with sleep, play and family time. Here is what that means and how to set limits that work.
Off-screen ideas
How can I get my child reading instead of always on a screen?
Little and often, their choice of book, and a free library card. Practical, no-nag ways to help children of every age enjoy reading, with ideas that suit screen-loving kids.
Talking and rules
How do I handle screen time over the mid-term break?
Agree a simple holiday plan with your kids before the break starts: a few screen-free anchors each day, clear 'screens after' rules, and a plan for friends' houses. Here's how to make it work without daily battles.
Off-screen ideas
How can I get my kids playing outside more?
Go out with them, keep it short and fun, bring other children along and build outdoor time into the school run. Easy, free ideas by age, plus what the HSE says children need.
By age
How much screen time should a toddler have?
Under 2s: as little as possible, but video calls are fine. Ages 2 to 5: no more than an hour a day, ideally shared. What the HSE, WHO and UK guidance say, and how to make it work.
Talking and rules
How do I get my child off a screen without a meltdown?
Agree the stopping point before they start, end at a natural break, have something to move on to, and stay calm if it still goes wrong. Practical tips by age.
Setting it up
How do I set up parental controls on my child's Android phone?
A calm, step-by-step guide to Google Family Link for a child's Android phone or tablet: the account, time limits, bedtimes, app approvals and content filters.
Off-screen ideas
What can my kids do instead of screens on a rainy day?
Free, low-effort indoor ideas for toddlers to teens, from living-room sports to library trips, plus how to make them more appealing than the tablet.
Talking and rules
How do I make a family screen time agreement that actually sticks?
Make it together, keep it short, include the adults and review it often. A step-by-step guide to a family screen agreement, with what to put in it.
Setting it up
How do I set up Screen Time on my child's iPhone?
A calm, step-by-step guide to Apple's Screen Time for a child's iPhone or iPad: time limits, purchase approval, content ratings and website filters.