The recommendations at a glance
In 2023, the German Society of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (DGKJ) and numerous professional societies published a guideline on the use of screen media. A short version is aimed directly at parents. The time limits refer to leisure use, not to school and homework.
| Age | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| 0 to 3 years | Screen-free |
| 3 to 6 years | At most 30 minutes on individual days, together with an adult |
| 6 to 9 years | At most 30 to 45 minutes on individual days, together with an adult |
| 9 to 12 years | At most 45 to 60 minutes per day, internet access only under supervision |
| 12 to 16 years | At most one to two hours per day, ending by 9 p.m. (21:00) at the latest |
| 16 to 18 years | Agree on family rules; two hours per day as a guideline |
The World Health Organization recommends no screen time for children under one year and at most one hour of sedentary screen time per day for two- to four-year-olds – less is better.
These values are guidance, not rigid limits. Content, time of day and whether sleep, exercise and time with others are falling short also matter.
More than minutes: what else matters
Content
A learning app or a video call with the grandparents is something different from endless scrolling.
Time of day
Screens shortly before bed can make it harder to fall asleep. A screen-free hour before bedtime is a good start.
Places
Bedrooms and the dinner table as screen-free zones help the whole family.
Role model
Children take their cue from what parents do, not from what they say.
How to put the recommendations into practice
- Set a daily time for each age group and discuss it with your child
- Consider school and homework separately
- Set up Downtime for the night
- Agree on fixed screen-free times, for example during meals
- Every few months, check together whether the rules still fit
In Kydly, you can create Bedtime, School mode and free-time rules as modes. Your child sees their own screen time and can ask for more time. Optionally, you can combine tasks with a small time bonus.
Frequently asked questions
How much screen time is okay for a 10-year-old?
The German media guideline recommends at most 45 to 60 minutes of leisure screen time per day for 9- to 12-year-olds.
Does school count toward screen time?
The recommendations refer to leisure use. Use for school is considered separately.
When does it make sense for a child to have their own smartphone?
The media guideline recommends a child's own smartphone at age 9 at the earliest, preferably not before age 12, in each case with restricted internet access. Your child's maturity also matters.
Get to know Kydly
Try Kydly first with sample data in the demo, or download the app. The basic features for one parent and the first child are free.
Sources and further information
- Deutsches Ärzteblatt: Guideline for screen time – limits by age group (German)
- idw: How much screen time is appropriate for children? (guideline, October 2023) (German)
- DGKJ: Handling cell phones, computers and game consoles in the family (German media guideline, German)
- World Health Organization (WHO): Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age
This guide is published by the provider of the Kydly app. It does not replace individual legal, medical or educational advice. Information about Kydly describes the app as of the date stated; the Privacy Policy, the Terms of Use and the terms Apple displays before purchase are binding. Legal documents (privacy policy, terms of use, legal notice) are available in German and English.