For parents and carers
Screen time guidelines by age, in plain English
A short guide to the widely-cited 3-6-9-12 rule, and what's actually worth paying attention to beyond the clock.
The 3-6-9-12 rule
Originally set out by psychiatrist Serge Tisseron, this is one of the most widely referenced age frameworks for screens. It isn't a medical prescription, more a starting point most families find useful to adapt.
Before age 3
No screens. At this age, screen time doesn't teach anything a real face and voice can't teach better.
Age 3 to 6
Screens are fine, but shared. Watch or play together rather than handing a device over to use alone.
Age 6 to 9
Still no device that belongs just to the child. A family tablet or computer, used with a routine around it, works better than a personal one.
Age 9 to 12
The internet opens up, but with supervision. This is the age most children start wanting more independence online, and where the ground rules matter most.
Age 12 and up
Social media becomes appropriate, gradually and with an adult still paying attention. Not a switch that flips on a birthday.
What's worth a conversation, not just a rule
A strict limit doesn't tell you much on its own. These patterns tend to matter more, whatever age a child is:
- Real difficulty stopping a game or video, even after being asked more than once.
- “Five more minutes” turning into much longer, most times it's said.
- Feeling noticeably worse after scrolling, rather than just neutral or entertained.
- A device staying in the bedroom overnight, even switched to silent.
This is general guidance, not medical or clinical advice. If you're worried about a child's wellbeing, talk to their school, a GP, or a service like the NSPCC.
Questions parents ask us
What is the 3-6-9-12 rule?
It's a widely-cited set of age guidelines for screens: no screens before 3, no personal device before 6, no unsupervised internet before 9, and no social media before 12. It's general guidance rather than a strict clinical rule, and most families adapt it around their own circumstances.
Is all screen time bad for children?
No. The research points to how screens are used mattering more than the raw number of minutes: shared or solitary, before bed or during the day, calm or something a child struggles to stop. A blanket time limit misses most of that.
What should I do if my child gets very upset when I turn off a screen?
A strong reaction to stopping is common and isn't automatically a sign something is wrong. It's worth noticing as a pattern rather than just meeting it with a bigger consequence each time. If it happens most days, or seems to be getting worse, it's worth mentioning to their school or GP.
Turn this into a weekly conversation, not just a rule
The Home Pack builds guidance like this into a 10 to 15 minute conversation each week, cards written for the kitchen table rather than the classroom.
Looking for SEND or EAL classroom resources instead?