Data and facts on children's media time
From its own survey of 200 parents conducted between November 2020 and February 2021, EDURINO found that media use is causing conflict in many families. Parents are particularly unsure about how much screen time is healthy for their child.
The 2020 KIM study reports an average daily internet usage time of 46 minutes among 6- to 13-year-olds. 42% of this age group own a smartphone, 18% own their own laptop or computer, and approximately 9% own their own tablet. Some children use media with siblings, friends, or parents, but more often they sit alone in front of the screen.
Digital media has become an integral part of everyday family life, but instead of passive consumption, parents can also encourage their children to actively use and shape it. There are many child-friendly websites and playful learning programs that children can explore together with their parents, instead of simply being bombarded with YouTube videos.
How much media time should children be allowed at what age?
The BZgA recommends the following media usage time:
- Children aged 0 to 3 years: do not use screen media
- Children aged 3 to 6 years: maximum 30 minutes per day
- Children aged 6 to 10 years: a maximum of 45 to 60 minutes per day
It also depends on what the child does online and how they interact with media. Interactive content like a digital learning program or video calls from friends are obviously different than half an hour of children's television where the child sits passively in front of the screen. You know your child best and know which programs might upset them. Sometimes it helps to discuss what they've seen afterward or process it creatively, for example, by drawing a picture.
Banning screen time completely isn't a good idea. In the future, responsible use of digital media will be a hugely important factor in education and the workplace. You can prepare your child for this now by selecting age-appropriate content and applications and testing them out with your child. With learning apps like EDURINO, your child can actively participate in shaping their media time and learn classic school skills in a playful way. Unlike Facebook, Instagram, or Netflix, where you're never supposed to leave the app, children can immerse themselves in short, self-contained learning stories that adapt to their individual development.
How can I teach my child to use media responsibly?
It's simple: Start with yourself. If you're constantly on your phone, your child won't understand why they have a limited amount of media time, but you don't. So agree on media-free times, for example, during meals or family activities.
For younger children, a technical limit on screen time, such as an alarm clock, is appropriate, as they haven't yet developed a sense of time. However, once your child knows what day and time are, you should establish firm agreements about when screen media is allowed in your daily routine. The important thing here is to be consistent! Children like routines and are then more likely to accept that devices remain turned off.
In general, it's all about the right balance. As long as your child has enough opportunities to exercise and play with peers, they'll have a healthy balance to their media time.
How can you use screen time wisely?
When children have access to the internet, they first have to cope with the abundance of information and be able to classify it. Therefore, it's important that parents explore the world of media together with their children to help them understand it and point out the dangers.
One way to educate children to become digital creators rather than consumers is through child-friendly apps that introduce them to new information and learning content in a playful and personalized way. Good apps should be easy to use and ad-free, so children can use them independently.
Because let's be honest: When your child is in front of a screen, you finally have the time to make that important phone call, prepare dinner undisturbed, or simply enjoy a quiet cup of coffee. It's perfectly fine to strategically utilize your child's media time for your own benefit.
5 tips for parents on sensible media use for children
- Adapt media times to age and usage
- Try out digital media together with your child before leaving them alone
- Select child-friendly media that your child can actively participate in, e.g. learning apps
- Create a balance, e.g. with sporting activities or joint excursions
- Establish clear rules and routines for media use that all family members adhere to
Find out here how EDURINO teaches children how to use digital media responsibly.
