Safe screen time for preschoolers comes down to three things: keep it short (about 1 hour a day for ages 2 to 5, per the WHO and the American Academy of Pediatrics), make it ad-free and age-appropriate, and set up the device so kids can’t wander off. Playing together counts for a lot too. Below is how much screen time fits each age, a 5-step setup you can do tonight, and the red flags to watch for in any app.
Screens aren’t going anywhere, and pretending otherwise just makes parents feel guilty. The goal isn’t zero. It’s screen time you don’t have to hover over: short, calm, safe, and ideally shared.
How much screen time is OK, by age?
| Age | What the experts suggest |
|---|---|
| Under 18 months | Avoid screens, except video calls with family (AAP). |
| 18 to 24 months | If you use screens, keep it to high-quality content and watch together (AAP). |
| 2 to 5 years | About 1 hour a day of high-quality content, ideally shared with a grown-up (WHO and AAP). Less is fine. |
| 6 to 8 years | Family-set, consistent limits that protect sleep, play and physical activity (AAP). |
Those numbers are a guide, not a stopwatch. A rainy Saturday with a long movie isn’t a disaster. What matters is the overall pattern.
5 steps to set up safe screen time
1. Choose ad-free, age-appropriate apps
Ads are the most common way little kids end up somewhere they shouldn’t. Start with apps that show no ads to children and are made for their age. Our list of the best ad-free apps for kids compares the main options.
2. Lock down the device
- iPhone and iPad: use Screen Time to set app limits, block purchases and require your approval for downloads. Turn on Guided Access to keep your child inside one app.
- Android: use Google Family Link to approve apps, set daily limits and lock the device at bedtime.
- Everywhere: turn off in-app purchases and use a separate kid profile if your device has one.
3. Set limits inside the app too
Many kids’ apps have their own timers, which are friendlier than a device suddenly locking. In Lingokids, parents can set a daily screen time limit per child from the Parents Area (screen time limits come with Lingokids Plus).
4. Play together when you can
Both the AAP and WHO stress shared screen time for little kids. Sit in for a few minutes, ask what they’re doing, make the sounds, laugh at the silly bits. It turns screen time into together time.
🎮 Play it in Lingokids: Pizza Maker. One of the most-played games in Lingokids and perfect for playing together: ask “what topping next?” and let your child decide.
5. Keep screen-free zones and easy endings
- No screens at meals, in the car for short trips, and in bedrooms.
- No screens in the hour before bed. Swap in a story or a song.
- Warn before it ends: “Two more minutes, then we finish this game.” Timers that kids can see make the switch-off much smoother.
Red flags to watch for in any kids’ app
- Ads or pop-ups in the kids’ area.
- Buttons that lead to a browser, a store or social media.
- Endless autoplay with no natural stopping point.
- Chat with strangers or open comments.
- Purchases or subscriptions a child can reach without a grown-up.
- Permission requests (camera, microphone) that pop up with no parent check.
How Lingokids keeps screen time safe
- No ads, on any plan, including the free one.
- A Parental Gate in front of the Parents Area, subscriptions and settings.
- Device permissions go through the Parental Gate first, so a grown-up decides when an activity needs the camera or microphone.
- Daily screen time limits per child, set from the Parents Area (with Plus).
- Made for ages 2 to 8, with games, songs and shows starring Billy, Lisa, Cowy and Elliot.
For the bigger picture, read why tablets aren’t really the villain, and what we found in our internet safety study.
FAQ
How much screen time is OK for a 3-year-old?
The WHO and the American Academy of Pediatrics suggest about 1 hour a day for ages 2 to 5, with high-quality content and ideally a grown-up joining in. Less is fine.
What makes screen time safe for preschoolers?
Short sessions, ad-free and age-appropriate apps, a device set up with parental controls, and a grown-up nearby or playing along.
How do I set parental controls on a tablet?
On iPhone or iPad, use Screen Time to set limits and block purchases, and Guided Access to keep your child in one app. On Android, use Google Family Link to approve apps and set daily limits.
Can I limit screen time inside Lingokids?
Yes. With Lingokids Plus you can set a daily screen time limit for each child from the Parents Area, behind the Parental Gate.
