Sweden advises against smartphone and screen use for children under 2: are they that bad?

Australian parents may be surprised to learn that Sweden has advised against giving children under two years of age smartphones or screen time.

However, Australian child health experts, while broadly agreeing with the sentiment, say Australian health guidelines do not provide a specific age limit for screen time.

The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare released a new set of national guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children and adolescents aged 0–18 years on Wednesday.

The guidelines state that children under two years of age should not be exposed to screens, including those on phones, tablets and televisions.

Screen time 'not ideal' for babies

Associate Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney, Dr Elizabeth Denney-Wilson, said while there is no specific age limit on screen time in Australia, it is not ideal for babies.

"We know that screen time has been associated with a range of health issues in children, such as obesity, sleep problems and developmental delays," she said.

Swedish study links screen time to language delays

The Swedish guidelines cite a 2019 study which found that children who were exposed to more than an hour of screen time per day at 18 months of age had a 50 per cent greater risk of language delay at 30 months.

However, Dr Denney-Wilson said more research is needed on the long-term effects of screen time on children.

Social and emotional development

Dr Denney-Wilson said screen time can also interfere with a child's social and emotional development.

"When children are engaged in screen time, they are not interacting with the real world around them and they are not developing the same social and emotional skills as they would if they were playing with toys or interacting with other children," she said.

Australian guidelines

The Australian Department of Health's physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines for children aged 0–5 years do not provide a specific age limit for screen time.

However, the guidelines do recommend that children under two years of age should not be exposed to screen time other than video calls with family and friends.

For children aged two to five years, the guidelines recommend limiting screen time to no more than one hour per day.

What parents can do

Dr Denney-Wilson said parents can help their children avoid the negative effects of screen time by limiting their exposure to it and by providing them with plenty of opportunities for active play and social interaction.

"Parents can also encourage their children to use screens for educational purposes, such as watching documentaries or playing games that teach math or reading skills," she said.

Conclusion

While there is no specific age limit for screen time in Australia, experts recommend that parents limit their children's exposure to it, particularly in the first two years of life.

Screen time can have a range of negative effects on children's health and development, including obesity, sleep problems and developmental delays.

Parents can help their children avoid these negative effects by limiting their exposure to screen time and by providing them with plenty of opportunities for active play and social interaction.