Excessive screen time can lead to poor health and developmental outcomes. Encourage children to take part in other activities, such as physical activity.
Read about how much activity children should do each day, limiting sitting time, and getting enough sleep.
Being active
For children and young people, being active every day has many social, emotional, intellectual and health benefits, including:
All children and young people should get the right mix of physical activity, inactivity and sleep in each 24-hour period.
Limiting time sitting
Limiting the time spent sitting or lying down (sedentary behaviour) – especially in front of screens – helps children grow and develop good habits for life.
Long periods of sitting can lessen the benefits of being physically active. So, it’s important to break these up as often as possible.
Screen time during childhood can have long-term impacts on a child’s development. For children and young people, health experts recommend no more than 2-hours of sedentary recreational screen time per day. This does not include screen time needed for school work.
Turn off screens & Get Active
Set a limit on the amount of time children watch television or spend on devices. Experts recommend limiting screen time to a maximum of 2-hours a day. Too much screen time limits physical activity.
On the weekend, live life instead of watching it on TV. Find a new place to hike, bike or run. When you hear “I’m bored” think of something active to do.
During the winter months, avoid allowing children to watch too much TV or play video games. Encourage active play, which builds social, mental and physical motor skills.
Why reduce television time?
- Studies have shown we use less energy watching TV than sitting still
- TV influences the food choice of kids – Australia has a high rate of food advertising during children’s viewing hours
- TV replaces time a child can be active and enjoy physical activity
- There is an association between TV watching and being overweight
- 40% of children 5 – 12 years report watching an average of 2-hours or more of television or videos a day
Screen-free things to do
Limit your child’s screen time to no more than 1- to 2-hours a day. This includes television, games consoles, and smart devices. Offer alternatives to watching TV, until new, healthy habits are created. Some alternatives are:
Learn more
For more information about activity recommendations for children and young people, see:
