Tech Recs by Age

Tech Use Recommendations - From Ages 0 to 18

At ScreenSense, we recommend a slow approach to tech - one that starts by prioritizing and protecting the in-real-life (IRL) activities that cultivate a healthy childhood. These guidelines by age and grade can help parents roll out tech slowly with clear boundaries so screen time does not displace childhood essentials. Each family and every child is different but parents can use these guidelines as a roadmap and adapt as needed.

Ages 0-2

No access to devices and no screen time per American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization.

  • Set daily activity goals. For example, talk, sing, dance, smile, play, and read with your baby every day.

  • Keep caregiving time as screen-free as possible. Use your phone or TV when baby sleeps so media doesn’t interfere with eye contact, play, and caregiver-child interactions.

  • Do not give a baby your phone to calm them - this prevents learning to self soothe.

Ages 3-5

  • Aim for 1 hour/day max

  • Content matters!

    Pick age-appropriate content that aligns with your family values. CHOOSE long-form stories, shows and movies. AVOID  fast-paced, short-form content that involves clicking, scrolling, and influencers - like YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and InstaReels.

    Avoid YouTube kids due to inappropriate content, overstimulation, pervasive advertising, and addictive design. Instead try PBS Kids, Sensical, Kidoodle, or HappyKids.

    For all ages, Common Sense Media has great search tools to find good TV shows and Movies.

  • Prioritize screen-free tactile IRL play. 

    Use sparingly, not as a daily routine.

    Avoid using it as a babysitter or behavioral pacifier, especially on errands and at restaurants. Ok if used like a family TV with slow-paced age-appropriate content.

    See Streaming Content above for more details. 

    Do not allow solo use on a device that is not set up for a child. Instead, set up a child’s own account/user ID and correct birthdate, with no web browser, YouTube, social media, or App Store. Only add carefully selected apps and features.

    Family rules: Ask permission to use and only use in common area (not bedroom). Consider setting a screen limit daily via parent controls.

    • No phones. 

    • No smartwatches. 

    • Consider a landline. 

    • To make this easier, join other parents in delaying personal devices

  • Delay access to video games as long as possible. Prioritize IRL play instead, especially during playdates.

  • No unsupervised access.

    Co-use only. 

    Model/ teach how to use it as a tool and resource.

  • No messaging at this age 

  • No access or exposure to social media apps, including yours.

    Be mindful of how much you post about your young child in your account.

  • Only supervised YouTube access. Avoid YouTube Kids and YouTube Shorts

Grades K-4th

  • Aim for 1-2 hours/day max

  • Content matters!

    Pick age-appropriate content that aligns with your family values. CHOOSE long-form stories, shows and movies. AVOID  fast-paced, short-form content that involves clicking, scrolling, and influencers - like YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and InstaReels.

    K-2nd Grade

    Avoid YouTube kids due to inappropriate content, overstimulation, pervasive advertising, and addictive design. Instead try PBS Kids, Sensical, Kidoodle, or HappyKids.

    For all ages, Common Sense Media has great search tools to find good TV shows and Movies.

    Clarify family tech rules, including requiring parent permission to watch media. Set time limits. Prioritize play, time outdoors, and school work. Turn off TV/device when not actively watching. Set up in common area, and approach media as a ‘together’ experience more often than a solo experience.

  • Prioritize screen-free tactile IRL play. 

    Use sparingly, not as a daily routine.

    Avoid using it as a babysitter or behavioral pacifier, especially on errands and at restaurants. Ok if used like a family TV with slow-paced age-appropriate content.

    See Streaming Content above for more details. 

    Do not allow solo use on a device that is not set up for a child. Instead, set up a child’s own account/user ID and correct birthdate, with no web browser, YouTube, social media, or App Store. Only add carefully selected apps and features.

    Family rules: Ask permission to use and only use in common area (not bedroom). Consider setting a screen limit daily via parent controls.

  • No phones. 

    If absolutely needed, start with a simple smartwatch. Consider a landline.

    To make this easier, join other parents in delaying personal devices.

    Make sure watch is set up correctly for a child & won’t disrupt school day.

  • K-2nd grade

    Delay access to video games as long as possible. Prioritize IRL play instead, especially during playdates. 

    3rd-4th grade

    Find games at ESRB, and use in common area with known contacts only. Try to avoid daily use that becomes a habit. Set and enforce time limits. We recommend a 60 min per day time limit. Be mindful about content exposure.

    Turn video games off at least an hour before bedtime.

  • No unsupervised access. 

    Co-use only. 

    Model/ teach how to use it as a tool and resource. 

  • No unsupervised texting at this age.

    Get ahead of social pressure by talking with other parents about delaying texting among friends until middle school.

    Need a way for kids to connect? Get a landline as an alternative to texting! Facetime is also better than texting. Encourage knocking on friends’ or neighbors’ doors and making plans face-to-face while at school.

    In upper elementary:If your child shows interest in texting, you can model, coach, and co-write texts from a parent’s phone to start teaching etiquette. Share teachable moments as they arise on your own phone - e.g., show your child unwanted spam you get and how you handle it, explain when you choose to call someone instead of texting them.

    If your child gets a mobile device like a smartwatch or iPad, texting with parents is a low-stakes learning ground. Parents can model and give feedback while they practice texting.

  • No personal social media accounts

    (e.g., Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Discord) before high school, ideally age 16. To make this easier, join other parents to delay social media to make it easier.

    Does your child already have access to social media?

    That’s ok - it’s NEVER TOO LATE to reel it in. Use the steps and suggestions on our Social Media page.

  • No unsupervised access.

    Review video requests before allowing.

    Avoid YouTube Kids and YouTube Shorts

    YouTube is not age appropriate unless time-limited and supervised by an adult.

    YouTube Kids is not recommended due to excessive commercialism, advertising, addictive design and potentially harmful content.

    All YouTube and YouTube Kids content should be monitored by adults at these ages.

Grades 5th-8th

  • Aim for 1-2 hours/day max (excluding school work)

  • Content matters!

    Pick age-appropriate content that aligns with your family values. CHOOSE long-form stories, shows and movies. AVOID  fast-paced, short-form content that involves clicking, scrolling, and influencers - like YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and InstaReels.

    Co-create house rules and time limits so screens don’t crowd out IRL activities.

    Common Sense Media has great search tools to find good TV shows and Movies.

    Clarify family tech rules, including requiring parent permission to watch media. Set time limits. Prioritize play, time outdoors, and school work. Turn off TV/device when not actively watching. Set up in common area, and approach media as a ‘together’ experience more often than a solo experience.

    5th-6th

    ??

    7th-8th grade

    Help guide your growing tween/teen towards media you both like. Enjoy media time together whenever possible. 

  • Continue to allow sparingly with time limits and parental oversight. Carefully consider which apps you allow, know what your tween is doing online, and support healthy use with ongoing check-ins and adjustments.

    Appropriate apps to add at this age:

    Texting + Music + Podcasts +

    Apps that foster creativity and productivity rather than passive use. A helpful resource is: Common Sense Media’s app reviews.

    iPads & Tablets set up with a tween'sown user ID with correct birthdate is a good way for youth of this age to start to connect with friends via text or group chat without having a phone.

  • Simple phones and watches, set up for talk & text only – no video games, no internet browser, no social media.

    To make this easier, join the Kids IRL Phone Pact with other parents in Marin! 

    From Jessica - I would say to continue to use a watch as long as possible.  Kids won’t “need” a phone as much if their peers don’t have one!

    Make sure to set up any phone for youth use. To set up an iPhone correctly, click here for the video tutorial.

  • Find games at ESRB, and use in common area with known contacts only. 

    Try to avoid daily use that becomes a habit. Set and enforce time limits. We recommend a 60 min per day time limit.

    Be mindful about content exposure.

    Turn video games off at least an hour before bedtime.

  • Only allow on a device at home - not via personal mobile device. Make sure to filter for adult sites and prohibit incognito browsing. Regularly review and discuss what your child is doing on the internet.

  • Delay texting with friends as long as you can, until it’s a social necessity. It’s best to wait until middle school. Delay the social necessity by collectively delaying texting with other parents in your child’s social circle.

    A landline or FaceTime is a great alternative to texting! Texting - like any form of communication - needs to be modeled, coached, and practiced. So, delay access to texting until you’re ready to lean in and teach.

    Ready to roll out texting?Lessons on what to text, what not to text, and when and how to respond are essential. See our Teaching Texting webpage for more!

  • No personal social media accounts

    (e.g., Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Discord) before high school, ideally age 16. To make this easier, join Kids IRL to delay social media with other parents in Marin

    Social media is unregulated content that can’t be monitored for safety and wellbeing. Social media content can contain AI generated content which is challenging for your minds to decipher from real content. Delaying and then coaching are your best harm reduction measures.

    If necessary, enjoy curated social media exposure together with your tween/teen, coaching critical thinking and discernment. Avoid solo use on a personal or parent’s device; supervision and role-modeling are essential. 

    Does your child already have access to social media?

    That’s ok - it’s NEVER TOO LATE to reel it in. Use the steps and suggestions on our Social Media page.

  • 20 min/day limit unless exploring a topic or skill. Parental monitoring is strongly  advised. No YouTube Shorts at this crucial stage of brain development.

    This age is generally too old to be interested in YouTube Kids and we don’t advise allowing open access to YouTube. Limit time to 20 mins per day and heavily monitor content. 

    Continued education about the dangers of misinformation, influencer culture, toxic comparison, diet/fitness extremes.

    Check in with your tween/teen regularly. 

    Use in a shared space recommended.

Grades 9th-12th

  • Aim for 2 hours/day max (excluding school work)

    Self regulation by the end of high school is the goal.

  • Help guide your growing teen towards media you both like. Enjoy media time together whenever possible.

    Co-create house rules and time limits so screens don’t crowd out IRL activities.

    Common Sense Media has great search tools to find good TV shows and Movies.

  • iPad/tablet use often gets replaced by smartphone use.

    See next row for details. 

    For all devices, teach harm reduction strategies and coach towards self regulation by the end of high school.

  • Roll out other phone features slowly, carefully considering each app you allow, with co-created limits, ongoing check-ins, and adjustments.

    Allow more usage and features with responsible use. Reel in use if problematic. Teach harm reduction strategies and coach towards self regulation by the end of high school. Encourage use of tools and apps that help your growing teen learn to set their own limits (e.g., Be Present, Freedom).

    Coach teen to internalize the 4-step process for adding new tech.

  • Mentor healthy habits + limits.

    No video gaming after 9pm-10pm (weeknights), depending on grade.

  • Check in with your teen about what they’re doing online. Teach harm reduction strategies and coach towards self regulation by the end of high school.

  • Texting, phone calls, and FaceTime are great forms of digital communication in high school (and preferable to social media)!

    Coach healthy and safe digital communication. Check in with your teen about the upsides and downsides of texting, and when it’s more appropriate to talk in-person than text. See below for tips.

    Consider boundaries like no texting after 9pm or 10pm on school nights, depending on grade.

    Aim to turn off digital devices one hour before their bedtime.

  • Delay access to social media until at least age 16. Then take it very slowly, one platform at a time. We suggest starting with a 20 min time limit. Teach discernment and coach towards self regulation by the end of high school.

    To reel in use on social media apps that your teen already has, , use the steps and suggestions on our Social Media page.

  • Partner with your teen to co-create limits, ideally ~20 min/day max for entertainment use. 

    Encourage use primarily as a tool for learning, creativity, or skill building. Keep in mind: Teens use YouTube like adults use google (to look things up).

    Minimize use of YouTube Shorts to avoid short-form bingeing. 

    Goal is to allow independent use with occasional history reviews.

    Teach evaluation of misinformation, influencer marketing, disordered eating, clickbait, and addictive content.