Early development, 10 months–3 years
Screen time for children under 3 — practical limits and alternatives
Practical guidance for parents on limiting screens for babies and toddlers, creating screen-free routines, and offering playful alternatives. Educational advice by Anastasija Martinović.
An educational response by Anastasija Martinović
Anastasija Martinović
Anastasija Martinović: As an educator I share practical, everyday guidance from working with families; this is educational information, not medical advice.
For babies and toddlers, priority goes to back-and-forth talk, play, movement, reading and good sleep. Screens should not replace caregiving moments, meals, physical activity or settling at bedtime. When you do use screens, choose short, purposeful material and stay with your child to name what you see and connect it to real-life experiences.
Video calls with close relatives can be different from passive viewing because they are interactive, but they still work best with an adult nearby who helps scaffold the connection. Create clear no-screen zones and times—especially during meals and in the hour before sleep—and keep devices out of sight when not needed. When reducing screen time, offer easy swaps like a favourite book, a song, water play, a box of small safe objects, or a short movement game.
Set gentle limits: pick brief programs, co-view and talk about what you see, and link on-screen moments to real play. Reduce screens step by step rather than banning them suddenly; replace them with engaging alternatives and praise curiosity. These are educational recommendations from an educator and do not replace pediatric or psychological assessment.
Anastasija suggests
Anastasija Martinović
- 1Prioritize interaction: schedule daily times for talking, floor play, reading and free movement before considering screens.
- 2Choose quality and stay close: select short, meaningful content and watch with your child, naming people, actions and linking to real objects or activities.
- 3Make screen-free zones and routines: set simple rules such as no screens at meals and in the hour before bed; keep devices out of sight when not in use.
- 4Reduce gradually with swaps: instead of an abrupt ban offer concrete alternatives (book, song, water play, box of objects, short movement game) and praise your child's engagement.