10/02/2025
During office visits we frequently will recommend limiting screen time to a specific amount of time based on the child’s age. We understand that these recommendations may not be realistic for all children but hopefully they reinforce the importance of not allowing technology use to become detrimental. The truth is every child is different, and parents need to tailor the boundaries on technology use to their child’s and their family’s personalities and situation.. The AAP has come up with a more nuanced approach called the 5 C’s to help parents manage their children’s screen time and technology use. The 5 Cs are Child, Content, Calm, Crowding out, and Communication. The link below has a video that describes the basics of the 5Cs. I will add another link in the comments to an AAP page with many other links and recommendations regarding children and technology.
Discover The 5 Cs of Media Use—a simple, research-based framework to help pediatricians guide families on healthy screen habits. Includes age-based handouts for well-child visits, focused on child development, communication, and balanced media use.
