Growing Up Digital: Screen Time for Little Ones

Growing Up Digital: Screen Time for Little Ones

In the past decade, the use of portable smart devices like smartphones and tablets, alongside traditional screens such as TVs and computers, has surged worldwide. In South Korea, 38% of toddlers under 11 months old are already exposed to screen-based devices, spending an average of 2.4 hours a day in front of them.

Studies have associated high screen exposure with reduced physical activity, increased sedentary behaviour, emotional issues, and poorer overall well-being. A seven-year longitudinal study found that for every extra hour of daily TV viewing, children’s sleep duration dropped by about seven minutes—a pattern that compounds over time. And it’s not just TV: smartphones, tablets, and computers are all linked to disrupted sleep patterns, delayed bedtimes, and greater daytime fatigue, which in turn can affect mood, learning, and development.

This growing body of evidence raises an urgent question for parents: how much screen time is too much for toddlers and preschoolers—and what’s the right balance between real-world interaction and digital engagement?


Effects of Excessive Screen Time

Excessive screen time in children has been linked to a range of negative outcomes, particularly in the areas of sleep, cognitive development, and social-emotional well-being. Research indicates that children aged 6 to 14 years average 2.77 hours of screen time daily, with 46.4% exceeding two hours per day. This increase in screen use, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, has raised concerns about its impact on various aspects of child development. These concerns are detailed in the table below:

Table: The three most frequent developmental domain risks for children in using touch screen devices as identified by parents/caregivers in Singapore (2016) - National University of Singapore


Other key areas of child development that are affected by excessive screen time, as highlighted by MOH reports, include sleep behaviour and obesity.

Sleep Behaviour

Poor sleep affects 25–40% of children during their development and is increasingly linked to screen use. According to the International Journal of Environmental research and Public Health, having TVs in children’s bedrooms is associated with later bedtimes, shorter sleep duration, and increased daytime sleepiness. Research from Korea shows that 38% of toddlers under 11 months use screens for about 2.4 hours daily—a habit linked to sleep problems in later childhood. Another study reported that bedtime smartphone use leads to reduced sleep duration among children aged 11 to 13. The same 7-year longitudinal study of 1,864 children revealed that each additional hour of daily TV viewing corresponded to about 7 minutes less sleep. 

Obesity

According to a report by MOH, A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis found that children and adolescents (up to 18 years old) with the highest screen time had significantly larger waist circumferences compared to those with the lowest screen time. Additionally, a 2022 review indicated that screen use during meals may lead to increased food intake, potentially contributing to weight gain, although evidence in children specifically remains limited.


Professional Recommendations and Guidelines

In Singapore, national health authorities have laid out clear, research-backed guidelines to help parents manage young children’s screen use. The Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Promotion Board (HPB) recommend no screen time at all for children under 18 months, except for interactive video calls with family. For children aged 18 months to 6 years, screen time should be limited to a maximum of one hour per day, and this hour should be split into short, purposeful sessions rather than long viewing blocks. Crucially, experts caution against screen exposure during meals and within the hour before bedtime, as both have been linked to poorer eating habits, disrupted sleep, and reduced parent-child interaction.

These recommendations are grounded in a growing body of evidence linking excessive screen time to delayed language development, poorer emotional regulation, shorter attention spans, and lower levels of physical activity in young children.


Image: 0-2 Years Screen Use - Health Hub Sg


Yet, even with clear national guidelines, the reality of modern parenting often leads to screen time exceeding those recommendations — and not for lack of effort. According to a 2022 KKH study, as many as 80% of toddlers under 18 months already clock half an hour of recreational screen time on weekends, while 95% of preschoolers reach about two hours daily, far above Singapore’s official recommendations as seen above. 

At the same time, many parents feel torn. A survey of screen use highlights that despite knowing the science, such as how passive screen time can affect language, attention, and emotional resilience, most families find the ideal hard to follow in daily life. Remarkably, it's not always the screen time itself that hurts most — it’s parental guilt. A growing body of evidence shows that guilt, rather than screen exposure per se, is a stronger predictor of parental stress and dissatisfaction in parent-child relationships.


Supporting the Modern Parent

Singapore HealthHub’s “Grow Well SG” initiative, part of Singapore’s Healthier SG strategy, offers practical support to families aiming to balance screen use with healthy childhood development. These resources encourage parents to focus not just on limiting screen time but on promoting quality interactions, with emphasis on “co-viewing” as a protective measure. When parents watch and discuss content alongside their child, the risks of passive, unstructured consumption drop significantly. 

Other recommended measures include choosing age-appropriate and educational content. MOH also highlights the importance of setting consistent routines, avoiding screens during meals, and establishing “screen-free” zones at home to foster better habits.

At the preschool level, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has gone further: as of February 2025, schools are required to restrict screen use strictly for learning purposes—not as entertainment or time-fillers. The policy aligns with Singapore’s broader “Grow Well SG” strategy, embedding healthy digital habits into early learning environments.

Ultimately, the focus is shifting from strict screen time limits alone to nurturing mindful, purposeful use of digital media, hoping to reduce guilt while empowering parents to make informed, flexible choices that suit their unique family circumstances.


Image: MOH has provided stricter and clearer guidelines on screen use for children up to 12 years of age

(Image: Gin Tay | The Straits Times)

 

Finding Balance in a Digital Age

Navigating screen time for toddlers and preschoolers is undeniably challenging in today’s technology-driven world. While research clearly shows the risks of excessive screen exposure, the reality of modern family life means that rigid rules alone often fall short. The rise of parental guilt underscores that managing screen time isn’t just about numbers; it’s about finding a balanced, compassionate approach that works for each family.

Singapore’s evolving guidelines and initiatives like Grow Well SG reflect this nuanced understanding, emphasizing not only limits but also quality, context, and co-engagement with digital media. By fostering healthy digital habits both at home and in early childhood settings, these efforts aim to support children’s development while easing parental concerns.

At CradleNest, we’re here to support you, with trusted resources and a community of parents. Download the CradleNest app for more guides, personalised planning tools, and a network of parents just like you. Follow us on Instagram (@cradlenestsg) for updates, tips, and a peek into our growing community.


This article was informed by resources from the following: