How much screen time is okay for a 4 to 7 year old?
One number exists for the youngest children and none for older ones. Here is what the guidance says, with links, and how to plan a day.
By the Playlearnia team · 6 min read · updated 3 November 2026
Quick answer
WHO says sedentary screen time at ages 2 to 4 should be no more than one hour a day, and less is better. For ages 5 and up, WHO and the AAP's parent pages give no daily number. They ask for limits that leave room for sleep, activity and school, and for devices to be put away at bedtime.
Parents ask for a number, and the honest answer is that the guidance gives one number for the youngest children and none for older ones. This page lays out what the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics actually say for ages 4 to 7, with links, and how to turn it into a daily plan. It is general information, not medical advice.
What do WHO and the AAP say about screen time?
| Age | What the guidance says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 4 and younger | Sedentary screen time no more than 1 hour a day at ages 2 to 4. Less is better. Not recommended at age 1. | WHO, 2019 |
| 5 to 7 | No daily screen number. WHO asks all age groups to limit sedentary time overall and leaves the amount to families. | WHO fact sheet, WHO, 2020 |
| School age | No hours given. Put devices away at bedtime, and keep limits so schoolwork and other activities get done. | AAP HealthyChildren.org |
| Preschool | No hours given on the parent page. Keep screens for regular times of day, and set calming bedtime routines. | AAP HealthyChildren.org |
The AAP's 2016 policy statement, Media and Young Minds, stresses shared media use and leaving time for other healthy activities, and not only time limits. Read the full statement on the AAP site before you rely on a specific figure from it. Guidance changes, and these pages were last checked on 3 November 2026.
Why is there no number after age 4?
WHO's fact sheet points to a screen-time maximum only for children under 5. For older children it asks everyone to limit sedentary time and gives no figure. For a child of 5 to 7 that means your own limit is a reasonable one, as long as it leaves room for the things the guidelines value: movement, sleep, play, school and time with people. WHO's 2020 guidelines for ages 5 to 17 set an activity goal of an average of 60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity, so a screen limit is easier to defend if it protects that hour.
What else fills the day at this age?
The WHO guideline for ages 3 to 4 asks for at least 180 minutes of varied physical activity a day, at least 60 of them moderate to vigorous, and 10 to 13 hours of good quality sleep including naps (WHO news release). Screen time is easier to size once those two are protected first. If a day has little movement and a short night, the screen is not the only thing to change.
Do all screen minutes count the same?
No. The AAP's 5 C's questions ask you to think about your child, the content, whether your child can calm down without the screen, and what the screen is crowding out. Ten minutes of a counting game you played together is different from an hour of autoplay. That is why we also suggest judging the game: see how to pick a screen-time-friendly learning game.
How do you turn guidance into a daily plan?
- Pick screen-free times first. The AAP's family media plan advice suggests dinner and the time before bed.
- Count games, not minutes. "Two games" is a limit a child can see.
- Let a game in progress finish. Then move to something chosen in advance.
- Keep devices out of the bedroom. Everyone in the house follows the same rule.
- Use your device's tools. Apple's Screen Time can set time allowances for apps and schedules for the device.
- Review every term. Needs change as the school day lengthens.
The evening side of this is in our guide to an after-school and bedtime routine.
What does Playlearnia do about time?
A parent can set a daily limit of off, 15, 30 or 60 minutes in the PIN-protected parent area. When the limit is reached, a rest screen appears when the current game ends. A game is never cut off halfway. Each game is five short rounds, and the app has no notifications and never calls your child back.
The limit is a gentle stop, not a lock, and it does not replace you. The app has no bedtime schedule, and it counts only its own play time, so it cannot tell how long your child spends on other apps. Playlearnia is English only. It is in testing and not on the App Store yet, so you cannot download it today.
The short version
- WHO: at ages 2 to 4, no more than one hour a day of sedentary screen time, and less is better.
- At 5 to 7, neither WHO nor the AAP's parent pages give a daily number. Set your own and keep it steady.
- Protect sleep, movement and bedtime first. Put devices away before bed.
Sources
Links open other sites. Checked on 3 November 2026. Guidance changes, so check the current version.
- WHO news release, To grow up healthy, children need to sit less and play more (24 April 2019): Screen time, activity and sleep recommendations for ages 1 to 4.
- WHO, Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age (2019): The WHO guideline for children under 5.
- WHO, Physical activity fact sheet: WHO's only screen-time maximum is for children under 5.
- WHO, Guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour (2020): The WHO guideline for ages 5 to 17.
- AAP HealthyChildren.org, Kids and screen time: 5 C's questions for school-age children: AAP advice for school-age children.
- AAP HealthyChildren.org, Kids and screen time: 5 C's questions for toddlers and preschoolers: AAP advice for preschoolers.
- AAP HealthyChildren.org, How to make a family media use plan: Screen-free times and zones.
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Media and Young Minds (2016), abstract on PubMed: AAP policy statement on media and young minds.
- Apple Support, Set up parental controls on your child's iPhone or iPad: Screen Time time allowances and schedules.
About this guide. It is written by the makers of Playlearnia, which is in testing and not on the App Store yet. Everything above applies to any app you try. See what Playlearnia does for parents or the FAQ.
Want a game with a parent-set limit?
Playlearnia lets a parent set a daily limit of 15, 30 or 60 minutes. It is in testing and not on the App Store yet. Send one email and we will write to you once, when it is available.
Opens your mail app addressed to support@playlearnia.com. There is no sign-up form and nothing is sent until you send the email.