Real‑life examples of setting screen time limits for different age groups

Age-by-age examples of setting screen time limits at home

Let’s skip the theory and start with what most parents actually want: concrete, age‑by‑age examples of setting screen time limits for different age groups that feel doable on a Tuesday night after a long day.

Below, you’ll see how families handle screen time with toddlers, preschoolers, grade‑school kids, tweens, and teens—plus how those examples line up with what pediatric and mental health experts recommend.

Examples of screen time limits for babies and toddlers (0–2 years)

For the youngest kids, the best examples of limits are less about minutes and more about what and when.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests avoiding screens (other than video chatting) for babies under 18 months, and keeping screen time very limited and high‑quality for toddlers. You can see that guidance here:

• AAP Family Media Plan – healthychildren.org

In real life, that doesn’t mean you’ve failed if your 20‑month‑old has watched “Bluey.” It means you build gentle guardrails. Some examples of setting screen time limits for this age group:

• A parent keeps video calls with grandparents, plus one short co‑viewed show (about 15–20 minutes) after nap while preparing a snack. No background TV during playtime.
• Another family uses a simple rule: no personal devices for toddlers. If there’s a screen, it’s the living room TV, with an adult sitting nearby and talking about what’s on.

For this age, the best examples focus on:

• No screens during meals, sleep routines, or in bedrooms
• Co‑watching whenever possible, so screens become social, not just passive
• Predictable times, like “one short show after lunch,” instead of random all‑day access

You’re not aiming for perfection—just patterns that protect sleep, language development, and real‑world play.

Preschool examples of setting screen time limits (3–5 years)

Once kids hit preschool, screens become more tempting—and more educational. The AAP and CDC both emphasize balancing screen time with physical activity and sleep. The CDC’s guidance on kids’ movement and sleep is a helpful reality check: cdc.gov.

Here are real examples of setting screen time limits for different age groups, starting with preschoolers:

• One family has a clear weekday rule: no screens before preschool, and up to 30 minutes after dinner for an age‑appropriate show or educational app, always in the living room.
• Another parent uses a “screen token” system. The child gets two 20‑minute tokens a day. Tokens can be used for TV or a tablet app, but not during meals or within an hour of bedtime.
• A working parent who needs a bit of calm in the afternoon allows one hour of screens while they cook dinner, but only after at least an hour of outdoor play.

In all these examples, parents:

• Keep screens out of bedrooms
• Avoid screens within 60 minutes of bedtime to protect sleep
• Treat screens as a small part of the day, not the main activity

If you’re looking for a simple example of a starting rule: “On school days, you can watch one show after school and one show after dinner, as long as we’ve done outside play and storytime.”

Grade‑school examples of screen time limits (6–9 years)

School‑age kids are where things really start to shift. Homework moves online, classmates talk about games, and YouTube suddenly exists in their vocabulary.

Here are examples of setting screen time limits for different age groups in the early elementary years:

• A family with a 7‑year‑old has a “screens after responsibilities” rule: homework, chores, and 30 minutes of reading come first. After that, there’s up to 60 minutes of recreational screen time (games, shows, or YouTube Kids) on school nights.
• Another household sets a “two‑hour total” on weekends, which can be split between a movie, video games, or computer time. The child chooses how to use it, but once the two hours are gone, that’s it.
• One parent keeps all gaming and streaming devices in the living room and uses parental controls to shut off access at 8 p.m. automatically.

These examples include both time‑based and location‑based limits:

• Time limits: 30–60 minutes of fun screen time on school days; 1–2 hours on weekends
• Place limits: no screens behind closed doors; devices stay in shared spaces
• Content limits: only pre‑approved games and shows; no free‑for‑all browsing

This is also a good age to introduce family tech rules like:

• “No screens at the dinner table.”
• “Devices charge in the kitchen overnight.”
• “We ask before downloading any new app or game.”

These simple rules are some of the best examples of building healthy habits before middle school hits.

Tweens (10–12) – flexible examples of setting screen time limits

Tweens are in the gray zone: too old for rigid rules, too young for total freedom. They may need a laptop for school, a phone for coordination, and still desperately want Minecraft or Roblox.

Here are real examples of setting screen time limits for different age groups at this stage:

• A 10‑year‑old is allowed 90 minutes of recreational screen time on school days, only after homework and activities. Weekends allow up to 3 hours a day, but not in one long block—there must be breaks for offline play, chores, or going outside.
• A family with an 11‑year‑old uses app‑specific limits on a smartphone: social apps max at 60 minutes per day, games at 45 minutes, and YouTube at 30 minutes. Educational sites and homework tools are not limited.
• Another household has a “screen curfew”: all recreational screens end by 8:30 p.m., and the phone is turned over to a parent’s room to charge by 9 p.m.

At this age, examples of good limits often shift from strict minutes to priorities and boundaries:

• Schoolwork and sleep come first.
• Social and physical activities must exist outside screens.
• Parents and kids talk openly about what they’re doing online.

The best examples with tweens also include kids in the conversation. Instead of announcing, “You get one hour,” you might say, “You need about 9–12 hours of sleep and time for homework and sports. Let’s figure out how much screen time fits around that.” This helps them learn to self‑regulate—a skill they’ll need in high school.

Teens (13–18) – realistic examples of limits in a 24/7 world

By the teen years, strict minute‑by‑minute limits usually backfire. Social life, school, clubs, and even part‑time jobs can all run through phones and group chats.

Research from organizations like the National Institutes of Health suggests that how teens use screens (for connection, creativity, or passive scrolling) often matters more than a single magic number of minutes. You can explore more here: nih.gov.

Still, parents absolutely can set boundaries. Here are real‑world examples of setting screen time limits for different age groups, focused on teens:

• A family of a 14‑year‑old sets “screen‑free anchor times”: no phones at meals, during family activities, or in the 60 minutes before bedtime. The teen keeps the phone in the kitchen overnight.
• A 16‑year‑old negotiates more freedom but agrees to no social media during homework. The phone stays in another room while studying, and the teen can check it during short breaks.
• Another family with a 17‑year‑old focuses on screen balance instead of strict hours: the teen must get 8 hours of sleep, keep grades up, contribute to chores, and stay active in at least one offline activity. If those slip, parents temporarily tighten social media and gaming limits.

These examples include:

• Non‑negotiables: no phones while driving, no devices overnight in bedrooms, no posting or sharing personal info
• Negotiated freedoms: later weekend curfews on devices, more autonomy with apps, as long as trust is maintained

For teens, the best examples of limits are clear, consistent, and tied to health and responsibility, not punishment.

How to adjust screen time limits when life happens

Even the best examples of setting screen time limits for different age groups can fall apart during:

• Long travel days
• Illness
• School breaks
• Major life stress (new baby, moving, job changes)

You’re allowed to flex. Healthy examples include:

• During a flu week, a parent allows extra movies and games, but still keeps no screens during meals and no devices in bed after lights out.
• On long road trips, kids use tablets more, but parents download content ahead of time and keep short screen‑free breaks at rest stops.
• Over summer break, a family shifts from daily time limits to a “to‑do before tech” list: reading, a chore, and some physical activity must happen before screens.

Think of your rules like a budget. Some weeks are tighter, some are looser, but you still keep the big picture in mind: sleep, movement, mental health, and real‑world connection.

For more guidance on healthy media use and mental health, see:

• Mayo Clinic – Children and screen time: Tips for balancing

Building your own family screen time plan

Instead of copying someone else’s rules exactly, use these examples of setting screen time limits for different age groups as a menu. Then design a plan that fits your family’s values, schedule, and kids’ personalities.

A simple way to start:

1. Pick your non‑negotiables. Common ones:

   • No devices in bedrooms overnight
   • No screens during meals
   • No social media before a certain age

2. Decide on weekday vs. weekend rules. Many families allow:

   • Shorter, more structured screen time on school days
   • Longer, more flexible time on weekends or holidays

3. Use tools that help, not replace parenting.

   • Parental controls and app timers are great, but conversations matter more.

4. Review and adjust regularly.

   • Once or twice a year, revisit limits with your kids as they grow.

If you want a structured template, the AAP’s Family Media Plan is a good starting point: healthychildren.org.

When you hear your kids say, “But everyone else gets unlimited screen time,” remember: they’re probably seeing only the most permissive examples. Plenty of families are quietly using limits like the ones you’ve just read—and their kids survive, complain a little, and eventually adapt.

FAQ: real‑world questions about screen time limits

What are realistic examples of screen time limits for a 5‑year‑old?

A realistic example of limits for a 5‑year‑old might be: no screens before preschool, one short show (20–30 minutes) after school, and one more show after dinner, all in a shared space and not within an hour of bedtime. Weekends might allow a family movie plus some educational games, as long as there’s plenty of outdoor play and social time.

How many hours of screen time is okay for a teenager?

There isn’t a single magic number. Many experts now suggest focusing on impact instead of raw hours. If your teen is sleeping 8–10 hours, staying active, keeping up with schoolwork, and maintaining offline relationships, a few hours of screen time a day (including schoolwork) can be reasonable. Problems show up when screens start replacing sleep, movement, and face‑to‑face connection.

Can you give examples of screen time rules that work for the whole family?

Yes. Some examples include: no phones at the table; all devices charge in the kitchen overnight; one family movie night a week instead of everyone watching separately; and a shared “quiet hour” in the evening where parents read or relax and kids choose a book, drawing, or other offline activity.

What’s an example of a good first phone rule for a middle schooler?

A common example of a first phone rule set is: the phone stays downstairs overnight; parents know the passcode and can spot‑check; no social media for the first 6–12 months; and the phone is turned off during school hours except for emergencies. As trust grows, you can relax some of those rules.

How do I know if our screen time limits are working?

Look less at minutes and more at behavior and well‑being. Signs your limits are working: your child sleeps well, can handle boredom sometimes without a meltdown, enjoys offline hobbies, and can put the device down (with some protest, but not a total explosion). If you’re seeing constant battles, sneaking devices, or big mood swings tied to screen loss, it may be time to tighten or simplify your rules—and talk openly about why.

The goal isn’t to win a zero‑screen contest. It’s to raise kids who can enjoy technology and walk away from it. These real‑life examples of setting screen time limits for different age groups are starting points, not scorecards. Use what fits, ignore what doesn’t, and remember: you can always change the rules as your kids—and the tech world—keep changing.