The UK government is getting ready to release its first official screen time advice aimed specifically at children under the age of five. Expected in April, the guidance is designed to help families manage everyday screen habits without turning technology into a battleground at home.
The move comes after growing concern from child development experts that heavy daily screen exposure can affect early language skills. Research highlighted by The Guardian has shown that excessive use may slow vocabulary growth in toddlers, adding urgency to calls for clearer and more practical advice for parents.
Rather than pushing strict limits or outright bans, the upcoming guidance is intended to reflect how families actually live. Screens are already part of daily routines for most young children, so the focus is on reducing harm instead of eliminating devices altogether.
Why passive screen time is the main concern
At the heart of the guidance is a distinction between active and passive screen use. Passive time refers to moments when a child watches content without interaction, shared attention, or conversation. This could include background TV or solo viewing where there is little engagement.
Experts say this matters because early language development thrives on interaction. Toddlers build vocabulary fastest through back and forth exchanges such as pointing things out, naming objects, repeating words, and responding to questions. When screens replace these moments, children miss out on valuable learning opportunities.
Government advisors are expected to recommend simple habits that keep screens from crowding out talking, playing, and reading together. The aim is not to shame parents but to offer realistic ways to keep screen use in balance. For families using Apple devices, tools like iOS Screen Time already make it easier to monitor and adjust usage at home.
What the research shows about early screen habits
The push for clearer advice is backed by government commissioned research into screen exposure during early childhood. The findings suggest that screen habits form quickly, starting well before a child turns two.
On average, daily screen use was reported at around 29 minutes for babies aged nine months. By the age of two, that figure jumped to more than two hours a day. Nearly all two year olds in the study were watching television, videos, or digital content daily.
The research also found a clear gap between light and heavy users. Two year olds spending close to five hours a day on screens showed weaker vocabulary skills compared with peers who averaged closer to 44 minutes. While the study does not claim screens alone cause language delays, the link was strong enough to raise concern among early years specialists.
How this compares with global recommendations
The findings place many UK families well above international benchmarks. The World Health Organization advises limiting screen time to no more than one hour per day for children aged two to four. That recommendation has been in place for several years, but many parents say it feels unrealistic without clearer guidance on how to achieve it.
Officials stress that the new UK advice is not about hitting a perfect number overnight. Instead, it aims to help families make gradual changes that support healthy development during the crucial early years.
The research also looked beyond television and videos. Around 19 percent of two year olds were reported to be playing video games. When gaming and viewing were combined, total screen time averaged about 140 minutes per day.
Language ability was measured using a short list of 34 words. Children in the highest screen use group recognized fewer of those words than children in the lowest use group. The study also noted that around one quarter of children scored above a threshold associated with possible emotional or behavioural difficulties, though experts caution that many factors can influence those results.
What parents can expect before the guidance is released
The panel shaping the April guidance is reviewing existing evidence while gathering feedback directly from parents. Early years leaders are also encouraging policymakers to include online safety and basic digital awareness as part of the same package.
Until the official advice arrives, experts suggest focusing on how screens are used rather than simply counting minutes. Shared screen time tends to be far more beneficial than solo viewing. Sitting with a child, talking about what is on the screen, and asking simple questions can turn passive watching into an interactive experience.
Small changes can make a difference. Turning off background TV, choosing age appropriate content, and setting aside screen free time for play and reading can help protect the moments toddlers need most to talk, explore, and connect. For parents looking for extra support, parental control tools on both iPhone and Android devices can also help manage screen habits more easily.
