How much screen time is OK for my toddler or preschooler?

The WHO advises no sedentary screen time before age 2 and at most an hour a day for ages 2 to 4. The AAP now puts less weight on a fixed number and asks parents to look at content, what screens crowd out, and whether they watch together. Video chat with family is treated as an exception.

Can babies and toddlers actually learn from videos?

Under about age 3, children learn much less from a screen than from a live person (the video deficit), and baby vocabulary DVDs taught no extra words in a controlled test. Repetition, a parent talking about what is on screen, and live video chat all narrow the gap.

Does watching together really make a difference?

Yes, and it is one of the most consistent findings. Toddlers learned more words from video when a parent watched and talked with them, and the Daniel Tiger benefits showed up mainly when parents discussed the episodes. This is what researchers call joint media engagement.

Is educational TV like Sesame Street actually good for kids?

Good evidence says well-designed preschool shows can help. Sesame Street's early rollout improved school readiness, especially for boys and kids in poorer areas, and local versions in 15 countries showed learning gains. Content matters: shows built around learning goals do better than pure entertainment.

Is leaving the TV on in the background a problem?

Studies suggest it is. With an adult show playing in the background, toddlers played in shorter bursts and parents talked with them less. The effects were small, but turning the TV off when nobody is watching is an easy change.

Are fast-paced shows like CoComelon bad for attention?

The worry rests mostly on a small 2011 study in which 4-year-olds did worse on self-control tasks right after a fast cartoon. There is little direct research on CoComelon itself. Many experts suggest favoring slower, story-based shows and watching how your own child reacts.

Why do experts like Ms. Rachel and Bluey?

Ms. Rachel uses speech-therapy techniques like slow, clear words, repetition, gestures and pauses for kids to answer. Bluey models imaginative play and calm parenting in short episodes. Both get praise from experts, but there are no controlled studies of either show yet.

Is YouTube Kids safe, and how should I set it up?

YouTube Kids filters content automatically and makes mistakes, and research found young kids' YouTube viewing is mostly entertainment and ads. The safest setting is approved-content-only mode with search turned off; preteens can move to a supervised YouTube account.

Can kids really learn skills from how-to videos on YouTube?

For school-age kids and older, studies of adult and college learners suggest yes: video added to teaching gives strong gains, and hands-on skills can be learned about as well from video as in person. Pausing, rewatching and then practicing seems to be what makes it work.

Does TikTok or YouTube Shorts hurt attention?

A 2025 meta-analysis linked heavier short-form video use to weaker attention and self-control and poorer mental health. Nearly all the studies were snapshots, so they cannot show that short videos cause the problems. Research on young children is just starting.

Is Jonathan Haidt right that phones caused the teen mental health crisis?

It is an open, heated debate. Haidt and Twenge point to teen distress rising as smartphones spread. Critics like Candice Odgers, Amy Orben and Andrew Przybylski, and a National Academies panel, find mostly small average links and say the evidence does not show social media is the main cause, though some teens are clearly harmed.

Do school phone bans work?

Evidence is mixed. An older English study found test scores rose after bans, especially for struggling students, but a 2025 study of 30 English schools found strict bans alone were not linked to better well-being or grades. Teachers widely report phones as a classroom distraction.

When should my child get a smartphone?

There is no research-proven age. Haidt suggests waiting until high school, and pledges like Wait Until 8th and Smartphone Free Childhood help families in the same class delay together. The AAP and APA focus on readiness, setting limits together, and starting with a basic phone or watch.

Is screen time linked to worse brain or school outcomes in big studies?

Large studies like ABCD usually find small links between more screen time and slightly worse sleep, mood or grades, and family income often matters more. Brain-scan findings in small samples get big headlines but cannot show cause.

What is a family media plan and is it worth making?

It is a short written agreement covering screen-free times and places, device bedtimes and which content is OK. The AAP offers a free builder. Studies of plans themselves are limited, but they fit the research on protecting sleep, play and family time.

The Big Index

Screens, video and YouTube

What the research says about screen time, learning from video, good channels and the big phone debate.

107 entries
74 free
12 must-reads ★

Questions parents ask

How much screen time is OK for my toddler or preschooler?
The WHO advises no sedentary screen time before age 2 and at most an hour a day for ages 2 to 4. The AAP now puts less weight on a fixed number and asks parents to look at content, what screens crowd out, and whether they watch together. Video chat with family is treated as an exception.
- Guidelines on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Sleep for Children Under 5 Years of Age (World Health Organization)
- Kids and Screen Time: How to Use the 5 Cs of Media Guidance (AAP Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health)
- Media and Young Minds (AAP policy statement) (AAP Council on Communications and Media)
More in Screens, video and YouTube
Can babies and toddlers actually learn from videos?
Under about age 3, children learn much less from a screen than from a live person (the video deficit), and baby vocabulary DVDs taught no extra words in a controlled test. Repetition, a parent talking about what is on screen, and live video chat all narrow the gap.
- Transfer of Learning Between 2D and 3D Sources During Infancy: Informing Theory and Practice (Rachel Barr, Georgetown University)
- Do Babies Learn From Baby Media? (DeLoache et al., University of Virginia)
- What Matters for Young Children's Healthy Digital Media Use and Learning? (Screen Deep, Rachel Barr) (Children and Screens (host Kris Perry))
- Baby FaceTime: Can Toddlers Learn From Online Video Chat? (Myers, LeWitt, Gallo & Maselli)
More in Screens, video and YouTube
Does watching together really make a difference?
Yes, and it is one of the most consistent findings. Toddlers learned more words from video when a parent watched and talked with them, and the Daniel Tiger benefits showed up mainly when parents discussed the episodes. This is what researchers call joint media engagement.
- Co-viewing Supports Toddlers' Word Learning From Contingent and Noncontingent Video (Strouse, Troseth, O'Doherty & Saylor)
- The New Coviewing: Designing for Learning through Joint Media Engagement (Lori Takeuchi & Reed Stevens, Joan Ganz Cooney Center)
- Relation Between Active Mediation, Exposure to Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, and US Preschoolers' Social and Emotional Development (Eric Rasmussen et al., Texas Tech)
More in Screens, video and YouTube
Is educational TV like Sesame Street actually good for kids?
Good evidence says well-designed preschool shows can help. Sesame Street's early rollout improved school readiness, especially for boys and kids in poorer areas, and local versions in 15 countries showed learning gains. Content matters: shows built around learning goals do better than pure entertainment.
- Early Childhood Education by MOOC: Lessons from Sesame Street (Melissa Kearney & Phillip Levine)
- Effects of Sesame Street: A Meta-analysis of Children's Learning in 15 Countries (Marie-Louise Mares & Zhongdang Pan)
- Infants' and Toddlers' Television Viewing and Language Outcomes (Deborah Linebarger & Dale Walker)
More in Screens, video and YouTube
Is leaving the TV on in the background a problem?
Studies suggest it is. With an adult show playing in the background, toddlers played in shorter bursts and parents talked with them less. The effects were small, but turning the TV off when nobody is watching is an easy change.
- The Effects of Background Television on the Toy Play Behavior of Very Young Children (Schmidt, Pempek, Kirkorian, Lund & Anderson)
- The Impact of Background Television on Parent-Child Interaction (Kirkorian, Pempek, Murphy, Schmidt & Anderson)
Are fast-paced shows like CoComelon bad for attention?
The worry rests mostly on a small 2011 study in which 4-year-olds did worse on self-control tasks right after a fast cartoon. There is little direct research on CoComelon itself. Many experts suggest favoring slower, story-based shows and watching how your own child reacts.
- The Immediate Impact of Different Types of Television on Young Children's Executive Function (Angeline Lillard & Jennifer Peterson)
- The Relationship Between Television Exposure and Children's Cognition and Behaviour: A Systematic Review (Kostyrka-Allchorne, Cooper & Simpson)
- CoComelon: Parents' Guide and TV Review (Common Sense Media)
- Low Stimulating TV Shows for Little Kids (Common Sense Media)
Why do experts like Ms. Rachel and Bluey?
Ms. Rachel uses speech-therapy techniques like slow, clear words, repetition, gestures and pauses for kids to answer. Bluey models imaginative play and calm parenting in short episodes. Both get praise from experts, but there are no controlled studies of either show yet.
- Ms. Rachel: Parents' Guide and TV Review (Common Sense Media)
- Bluey Teaches Children and Parents Alike About How Play Supports Creativity and Other Life Lessons (Scott, Gaston-Panthaki & Piper, The Conversation)
- Should Your Kid Watch Bluey? (Jacqueline Nesi, Techno Sapiens)
Is YouTube Kids safe, and how should I set it up?
YouTube Kids filters content automatically and makes mistakes, and research found young kids' YouTube viewing is mostly entertainment and ads. The safest setting is approved-content-only mode with search turned off; preteens can move to a supervised YouTube account.
- YouTube Kids (Google / YouTube)
- YouTube Kids and YouTube Supervised Experiences: Viewing Options for Families (YouTube Help)
- Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids (Common Sense Media)
- Young Kids and YouTube: How Ads, Toys, and Games Dominate Viewing (Common Sense Media)
Can kids really learn skills from how-to videos on YouTube?
For school-age kids and older, studies of adult and college learners suggest yes: video added to teaching gives strong gains, and hands-on skills can be learned about as well from video as in person. Pausing, rewatching and then practicing seems to be what makes it work.
- Video Improves Learning in Higher Education: A Systematic Review (Noetel et al., Australian Catholic University)
- Is Online Video-Based Education an Effective Method to Teach Basic Surgical Skills? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (Mao et al.)
- Many Turn to YouTube for Children's Content, News, How-To Lessons (Pew Research Center)
Does TikTok or YouTube Shorts hurt attention?
A 2025 meta-analysis linked heavier short-form video use to weaker attention and self-control and poorer mental health. Nearly all the studies were snapshots, so they cannot show that short videos cause the problems. Research on young children is just starting.
- Feeds, Feelings, and Focus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Examining the Cognitive and Mental Health Correlates of Short-Form Video Use (Nguyen et al.)
- Short-Form Video Media Use Is Associated With Greater Inattentive Symptoms in Thai School-Age Children (Chiencharoenthanakij et al.)
- Attention, Media Use, and Children (Children and Screens)
Is Jonathan Haidt right that phones caused the teen mental health crisis?
It is an open, heated debate. Haidt and Twenge point to teen distress rising as smartphones spread. Critics like Candice Odgers, Amy Orben and Andrew Przybylski, and a National Academies panel, find mostly small average links and say the evidence does not show social media is the main cause, though some teens are clearly harmed.
- The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness (Jonathan Haidt)
- The Great Rewiring: Is Social Media Really Behind an Epidemic of Teenage Mental Illness? (Candice Odgers, Nature)
- The Association Between Adolescent Well-Being and Digital Technology Use (Amy Orben & Andrew Przybylski, Oxford)
- Social Media and Adolescent Health (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine)
Do school phone bans work?
Evidence is mixed. An older English study found test scores rose after bans, especially for struggling students, but a 2025 study of 30 English schools found strict bans alone were not linked to better well-being or grades. Teachers widely report phones as a classroom distraction.
- Ill Communication: Technology, Distraction and Student Performance (Louis-Philippe Beland & Richard Murphy, LSE)
- School Phone Policies and Their Association With Mental Wellbeing, Phone Use, and Social Media Use (SMART Schools) (Victoria Goodyear et al., University of Birmingham)
- 72% of U.S. High School Teachers Say Cellphone Distraction Is a Major Problem in the Classroom (Pew Research Center)
When should my child get a smartphone?
There is no research-proven age. Haidt suggests waiting until high school, and pledges like Wait Until 8th and Smartphone Free Childhood help families in the same class delay together. The AAP and APA focus on readiness, setting limits together, and starting with a basic phone or watch.
- Wait Until 8th (Wait Until 8th)
- Smartphone Free Childhood (Smartphone Free Childhood)
- Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence (American Psychological Association)
- The 5 Cs of Media Use (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Is screen time linked to worse brain or school outcomes in big studies?
Large studies like ABCD usually find small links between more screen time and slightly worse sleep, mood or grades, and family income often matters more. Brain-scan findings in small samples get big headlines but cannot show cause.
- Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (NIH-funded consortium)
- Screen Time and Early Adolescent Mental Health, Academic, and Social Outcomes in 9- and 10-Year-Old Children: Utilizing the ABCD Study (Paulich, Ross, Lessem & Hewitt)
- Associations Between Screen-Based Media Use and Brain White Matter Integrity in Preschool-Aged Children (Hutton et al., Cincinnati Children's)
- Associations Between Screen Use and Child Language Skills: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (Madigan et al.)
What is a family media plan and is it worth making?
It is a short written agreement covering screen-free times and places, device bedtimes and which content is OK. The AAP offers a free builder. Studies of plans themselves are limited, but they fit the research on protecting sleep, play and family time.
- AAP Family Media Plan (American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Kids and Screen Time: How to Use the 5 Cs of Media Guidance (AAP Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health)
- The Art of Screen Time: How Your Family Can Balance Digital Media and Real Life (Anya Kamenetz)

Must-reads

OrganizationFree
Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
Children and Screens, 2013
Independent nonprofit that funds and translates research on kids and screens, and says it takes no tech industry money. Free expert webinars, tip sheets, research summaries and an open-access handbook.
childrenandscreens.org
ToolFree
AAP Family Media Plan
American Academy of Pediatrics, 2016
A free online builder that walks a family through screen-free zones and times, device curfews, content choices and sleep. You pick what fits your kids and print a one-page plan. The AAP's main family tool, updated since its 2016 launch.
healthychildren.org
GuideFree
Kids and Screen Time: How to Use the 5 Cs of Media Guidance
AAP Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, 2024
The AAP's newer approach: instead of counting hours, think about your Child, the Content, whether screens are used to Calm, what they Crowd out (sleep, play, family time), and Communication. Short, practical and age-aware.
healthychildren.org
GuideFree
Guidelines on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Sleep for Children Under 5 Years of Age
World Health Organization, 2019
WHO's 24-hour guidance: no sedentary screen time for babies and 1-year-olds, and no more than one hour a day for ages 2-4, with less being better. It frames screens as one piece of a day that also needs active play and enough sleep.
who.int
PodcastFree
What Matters for Young Children's Healthy Digital Media Use and Learning? (Screen Deep, Rachel Barr)
Children and Screens (host Kris Perry), 2026
The researcher behind the video-deficit work explains it for parents: why under-3s learn less from screens, how repetition and a warm adult close the gap, why background TV matters, and why video chat with grandparents is a special case.
childrenandscreens.org
ReportFree
The New Coviewing: Designing for Learning through Joint Media Engagement
Lori Takeuchi & Reed Stevens, Joan Ganz Cooney Center, 2011
The report that named 'joint media engagement': kids learn more when an adult or sibling watches, plays or reads on a screen with them and talks about it. Includes design tips for media makers and easy ideas for families.
joanganzcooneycenter.org
StudyFree
Early Childhood Education by MOOC: Lessons from Sesame Street
Melissa Kearney & Phillip Levine, 2015
Used the fact that some 1969 homes could not receive the station to compare kids who could watch Sesame Street with kids who could not. Viewers were more ready for school, especially boys and poorer kids. Later earnings effects were unclear. NBER working paper.
nber.org
StudyPaid
The Immediate Impact of Different Types of Television on Young Children's Executive Function
Angeline Lillard & Jennifer Peterson, 2011
The study behind most pacing worries: 4-year-olds who watched nine minutes of a fast cartoon did worse right afterward on self-control and memory tasks than kids who drew or watched a slow show. Small sample and short-term only.
doi.org
Meta-analysisPaid
Feeds, Feelings, and Focus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Examining the Cognitive and Mental Health Correlates of Short-Form Video Use
Nguyen et al., 2025
The largest review so far on TikTok, Reels and Shorts. Heavier short-video use was linked to weaker attention and self-control and to poorer mental health scores. Nearly all included studies were cross-sectional and few involved young children.
doi.org
BookPaid
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
Jonathan Haidt, 2024
Bestseller arguing that smartphones, social media and the loss of free play drove the rise in teen anxiety and depression after 2012. Proposes four norms: no smartphone before high school, no social media before 16, phone-free schools, more independence. Its causal claims are disputed.
penguinrandomhouse.com
ReviewPaid
The Great Rewiring: Is Social Media Really Behind an Epidemic of Teenage Mental Illness?
Candice Odgers, Nature, 2024
The best-known critical review of The Anxious Generation by a developmental psychologist. She argues the book confuses correlation with cause, that most studies find small links, and that the panic may distract from real causes of teen distress.
nature.com
ReportFree
The 2025 Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Zero to Eight
Common Sense Media, 2025
The standard US survey of young kids' screen habits. Daily screen time held at about 2.5 hours, short-form video and gaming grew, TV fell, 40% of kids had a tablet by age 2, and nearly one in four had a phone by 8.
commonsensemedia.org

All 107

Family tools, books & orgs

★Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentChildren and Screens · 2013 · Organization · FreeIndependent nonprofit that funds and translates research on kids and screens, and says it takes no tech industry money. Free expert webinars, tip sheets, research summaries and an open-access handbook.
Screen Deep (podcast)Children and Screens (host Kris Perry) · 2024 · Podcast · FreeHalf-hour interviews with researchers on kids and media: the video deficit, attention, influencers, AI companions, gaming and more. Transcripts are posted with each episode.
The Art of Screen Time: How Your Family Can Balance Digital Media and Real LifeAnya Kamenetz · 2018 · Book · PaidA journalist and parent sums up the research and interviews other families, landing on a simple rule: enjoy screens, not too much, mostly together. Calm and practical rather than alarmed.
Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital WorldDevorah Heitner · 2016 · Book · Paid · Ages 8–12Argues that mentoring beats monitoring: help kids build judgment about texting, gaming and social media rather than relying only on limits and spy apps. Heitner's newer book Growing Up in Public covers the teen years.
ScreenagersDelaney Ruston (director) · 2016 · Film or show · Paid · TeensDocumentary by a physician and mom about her own family's fights over screens, often shown at school events, with follow-up films on teen mental health and a weekly blog of discussion prompts.
A Different Way to Look at Screen TimeEmily Oster, ParentData · Article · Free + paidEconomist Emily Oster's take on screen time research: most studies are correlational, so think about what screens are replacing in your child's day rather than treating every minute as harm.
Use Screen Time to Manage Your Child's iPhone or iPadApple Support · 2018 · Tool · FreeApple's official guide to Screen Time with Family Sharing: daily app limits, downtime, content and purchase restrictions, and Ask to Buy. Free and built into iPhones and iPads.

Guidelines & screen-time rules

★AAP Family Media PlanAmerican Academy of Pediatrics · 2016 · Tool · FreeA free online builder that walks a family through screen-free zones and times, device curfews, content choices and sleep. You pick what fits your kids and print a one-page plan. The AAP's main family tool, updated since its 2016 launch.
★Kids and Screen Time: How to Use the 5 Cs of Media GuidanceAAP Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health · 2024 · Guide · FreeThe AAP's newer approach: instead of counting hours, think about your Child, the Content, whether screens are used to Calm, what they Crowd out (sleep, play, family time), and Communication. Short, practical and age-aware.
The 5 Cs of Media UseAmerican Academy of Pediatrics · 2024 · Guide · FreeLanding page for the AAP's 5 Cs framework, with five age-based handouts (infancy to older teens) in English and Spanish, user guides for parents and clinicians, and posters. Built to replace the old two-hour rule with something more useful.
The 5 Cs of Media Use: Toddlers and Preschoolers (2-4 years)AAP Center of Excellence · 2024 · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5Two-page AAP handout for the toddler years: what kids this age can and cannot take from screens, how to choose slower, story-based shows, and why using a tablet to calm a meltdown can backfire over time.
Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental HealthAmerican Academy of Pediatrics · 2023 · Organization · FreeThe AAP's federally funded hub for evidence on kids, social media and screens. It runs a free Q&A portal for families and clinicians and publishes the 5 Cs and other short guides.
Media and Young Minds (AAP policy statement)AAP Council on Communications and Media · 2016 · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5The AAP policy behind the familiar rules: avoid screens other than video chat before about 18-24 months, limit ages 2-5 to about an hour of high-quality shows, and watch with your child. Still widely cited; the 5 Cs now sit on top of it.
★Guidelines on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Sleep for Children Under 5 Years of AgeWorld Health Organization · 2019 · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5WHO's 24-hour guidance: no sedentary screen time for babies and 1-year-olds, and no more than one hour a day for ages 2-4, with less being better. It frames screens as one piece of a day that also needs active play and enough sleep.
The Children and Screens Guide for Early Child Development and Media Use: Ages 0-5Children and Screens · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5A free, research-based guide that ties media advice to what is happening developmentally from birth to five: language, attention, self-regulation and sleep. Practical tips rather than a single number.
The Children and Screens Guide for Child Development and Media Use: Middle Childhood Ages 6-11Children and Screens · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12Same format for the elementary years: what research says about gaming, video, first phones and online friendships at this age, with conversation starters and household rules that tend to work.

How little kids learn from screens

Transfer of Learning Between 2D and 3D Sources During Infancy: Informing Theory and PracticeRachel Barr, Georgetown University · 2010 · Review · Free · Ages 0–5The key review on the 'video deficit': babies and toddlers copy and remember less from a screen than from a live person, roughly until age 3. It also lists what shrinks the gap, such as repetition and an adult connecting the screen to real life.
★What Matters for Young Children's Healthy Digital Media Use and Learning? (Screen Deep, Rachel Barr)Children and Screens (host Kris Perry) · 2026 · Podcast · Free · Ages 0–5The researcher behind the video-deficit work explains it for parents: why under-3s learn less from screens, how repetition and a warm adult close the gap, why background TV matters, and why video chat with grandparents is a special case.
Young Child Learning, Attention, and Screen Use (Screen Deep, Heather Kirkorian)Children and Screens · 2024 · Podcast · Free · Ages 0–5A media researcher on what actually helps young kids learn from video and apps: interactivity only helps when it serves the lesson, engaging is not the same as educational, and talking about a show afterward pays off.
Do Babies Learn From Baby Media?DeLoache et al., University of Virginia · 2010 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Randomized test of a best-selling baby vocabulary DVD: 12- to 18-month-olds who watched it for a month learned no more words than those who did not. Parents who liked the DVD tended to overestimate what their baby learned.
Associations Between Media Viewing and Language Development in Children Under Age 2 YearsZimmerman, Christakis & Meltzoff · 2007 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Survey study linking baby DVD viewing at 8-16 months with smaller vocabularies. It was correlational and drew pushback from the industry, but it helped end marketing of baby videos as educational and led to Baby Einstein refunds.
Skype Me! Socially Contingent Interactions Help Toddlers Learn LanguageRoseberry, Hirsh-Pasek & Golinkoff · 2014 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Two-year-olds learned new words from a live adult over video chat about as well as in person, but not from a pre-recorded video of the same adult. The back-and-forth, not the screen, seems to be what matters.
Baby FaceTime: Can Toddlers Learn From Online Video Chat?Myers, LeWitt, Gallo & Maselli · 2016 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Toddlers 12-25 months who had real FaceTime chats with a new adult recognized her a week later and learned more patterns than toddlers who saw recorded videos. This is why pediatric guidance exempts video chat.
Co-viewing Supports Toddlers' Word Learning From Contingent and Noncontingent VideoStrouse, Troseth, O'Doherty & Saylor · 2018 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Experiment showing that a parent watching alongside and talking about the video helped toddlers learn words from it, even from a regular pre-recorded clip. Strong evidence for the simple advice to watch together.
★The New Coviewing: Designing for Learning through Joint Media EngagementLori Takeuchi & Reed Stevens, Joan Ganz Cooney Center · 2011 · Report · FreeThe report that named 'joint media engagement': kids learn more when an adult or sibling watches, plays or reads on a screen with them and talks about it. Includes design tips for media makers and easy ideas for families.
Podcast: Children, Adults and the 'New Co-Viewing' via Digital MediaNew America · Podcast · Free · Ages 0–5A conversation on co-viewing in the tablet era: why sitting with your child and talking about what you see still matters, and how apps and shows can be built to invite parents in.
The Effects of Background Television on the Toy Play Behavior of Very Young ChildrenSchmidt, Pempek, Kirkorian, Lund & Anderson · 2008 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Lab study of 1- to 3-year-olds: with an adult TV show playing in the background, kids played for shorter stretches and focused less, even when they barely looked at it. The effect was small but consistent.
The Impact of Background Television on Parent-Child InteractionKirkorian, Pempek, Murphy, Schmidt & Anderson · 2009 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Companion study: when a TV was on in the background, parents talked less with their young children and were less responsive during play. One reason experts suggest turning the TV off when nobody is watching.
Digital Screen Media and Cognitive DevelopmentDaniel Anderson & Kaveri Subrahmanyam · 2017 · Review · FreeA Pediatrics supplement review of the evidence: well-designed educational TV helps preschoolers, babies learn little from video, background TV and fast-paced entertainment carry costs, and content matters more than hours.
Infants' and Toddlers' Television Viewing and Language OutcomesDeborah Linebarger & Dale Walker · 2005 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Tracked toddlers' viewing and found that shows like Dora, Blue's Clues and Arthur were linked to more words and expressive language, while Teletubbies was linked to fewer. Early evidence that what kids watch matters more than whether they watch.
Associations Between Screen Use and Child Language Skills: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysisMadigan et al. · 2020 · Meta-analysis · Paid · Ages 0–5Pooling 42 studies, more screen time and earlier screen use were linked to weaker language in young kids, while educational programs and watching with a parent were linked to stronger language. Mostly correlational.
Associations Between Screen-Based Media Use and Brain White Matter Integrity in Preschool-Aged ChildrenHutton et al., Cincinnati Children's · 2019 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5Brain-scan study of 47 preschoolers linking screen use above AAP guidance with lower white-matter measures in language areas. Widely covered in the press, but it is small, cross-sectional and cannot show cause.
Mobile Media Content Exposure and Toddlers' Responses to Attention Prompts and Behavioral RequestsWebb, Christakis et al. · 2024 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5Lab study of 62 toddlers: while playing a tablet game they responded to fewer adult bids for attention than during other play. A small proof-of-concept study, but it shows why tablet time can feel like talking to a wall.
Helping Young Children Learn Self-Regulation in a Digital World: Tips for Parents of Children Ages 0-5Children and Screens · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5Tip sheet on helping little kids handle big feelings without reaching for a screen every time, with ideas for transitions, calm-down routines and ending screen time without a meltdown.
The Costs of Using Devices to Calm Children (Screen Deep, Peter Reschke)Children and Screens · 2026 · Podcast · Free · Ages 0–5A researcher explains studies on using phones and tablets to soothe upset kids: it works in the moment, but relying on it often may leave children fewer chances to practice calming down on their own.

Educational TV research

★Early Childhood Education by MOOC: Lessons from Sesame StreetMelissa Kearney & Phillip Levine · 2015 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5Used the fact that some 1969 homes could not receive the station to compare kids who could watch Sesame Street with kids who could not. Viewers were more ready for school, especially boys and poorer kids. Later earnings effects were unclear. NBER working paper.
Effects of Sesame Street: A Meta-analysis of Children's Learning in 15 CountriesMarie-Louise Mares & Zhongdang Pan · 2013 · Meta-analysis · Paid · Ages 0–5Pooled 24 studies of local Sesame Street versions in 15 countries. Kids who watched gained in early literacy and math, world knowledge and social attitudes. Some studies were funded or run with Sesame Workshop.
Relation Between Active Mediation, Exposure to Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, and US Preschoolers' Social and Emotional DevelopmentEric Rasmussen et al., Texas Tech · 2016 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Preschoolers who watched Daniel Tiger showed gains in empathy, emotion recognition and confidence, but mainly when parents talked with them about the episodes. Kids from lower-income homes benefited most.
Research Partnerships: Empathy and Daniel TigerTexas Tech College of Media & Communication · 2018 · Article · Free · Ages 0–5University write-up of the Daniel Tiger studies for a general audience: the show helped with emotional skills when parents joined in, and the takeaway is to watch together and use the songs and strategies in daily life.
Researching Blue's Clues: Viewing Behavior and ImpactAnderson, Bryant, Wilder, Santomero, Williams & Crawley · 2000 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Summary of the research built into Blue's Clues, including its pauses for kids to answer and its repeat-the-episode schedule. Regular viewers did better on some problem-solving tasks. Several authors worked on the show.
Why 'Blue's Clues' Showed Kids the Same Episode 5 Days in a RowMental Floss · Article · Free · Ages 0–5Light read on the research behind Blue's Clues: preschoolers understood and joined in more with each repeat viewing, which is why the network aired each episode all week. Helps explain why kids want the same show again and again.
Sesame Workshop: Research and InsightsSesame Workshop · Organization · Free · Ages 0–5The research arm of the nonprofit behind Sesame Street. It tests shows with kids during production and publishes studies on literacy, emotional skills and helping kids through hard times. Note it studies its own programs.
Fred Rogers InstituteFred Rogers Institute, Saint Vincent College · Organization · Free · Ages 0–5Keeps Fred Rogers' approach alive through research, training for educators and archives. Good for parents curious about why slow, calm, honest children's TV works and how to talk with kids about feelings.
Won't You Be My Neighbor?Morgan Neville (director), Focus Features · 2018 · Film or show · PaidDocumentary on Fred Rogers and why his deliberately slow, direct show connected with children. A good starting point for thinking about what makes kids' TV kind and useful rather than just busy.

Picking good shows & channels

How We Rate and Review: TVCommon Sense Media · Guide · FreeExplains how Common Sense rates shows by age and scores educational value, positive messages, violence, language and ads. Useful for reading its reviews well and for building your own quick checklist.
Best Preschool TV ShowsCommon Sense Media · Article · Free · Ages 0–5Curated list of preschool shows with an age rating and a short note on what each one teaches, from early math to feelings. Handy when you want a better option than whatever autoplay offers.
Low Stimulating TV Shows for Little KidsCommon Sense Media · Article · Free · Ages 0–5A list of calm, slow-paced shows such as Mister Rogers, Daniel Tiger and In the Night Garden for families who notice their child gets wound up by fast, loud programs.
CoComelon: Parents' Guide and TV ReviewCommon Sense Media · Article · Free · Ages 0–5Common Sense's review of the hugely popular nursery-rhyme show, with an age rating, what it teaches and parent and kid reviews. Read alongside the debate over its quick cuts and bright, busy visuals, which has little direct research behind it either way.
Ms. Rachel: Parents' Guide and TV ReviewCommon Sense Media · Article · Free · Ages 0–5Review of Ms. Rachel's songs and lessons for babies and toddlers, which use slow speech, repetition, sign language and pauses for kids to answer, all techniques speech therapists use.
Ms Rachel (official site)Rachel Griffin Accurso · 2019 · Video · Free · Ages 0–5Home of the YouTube and Netflix series made by a former preschool music teacher with a master's in music education. Built around language milestones for babies and toddlers, with slow pacing and lots of chances to talk back.
Bluey Teaches Children and Parents Alike About How Play Supports Creativity and Other Life LessonsScott, Gaston-Panthaki & Piper, The Conversation · 2023 · Article · Free · Ages 0–5Child development researchers use specific episodes to show how Bluey models pretend play, using everyday objects as toys, working through feelings and waiting your turn, plus ways to bring those ideas into real play.
Should Your Kid Watch Bluey?Jacqueline Nesi, Techno Sapiens · Blog · Free · Ages 0–5A psychologist who studies kids and tech walks through what research says about pacing, content and co-viewing, using Bluey as the example. Calm, evidence-first and practical.
Bluey (official site)Ludo Studio / BBC Studios · 2018 · Video · Some free · Ages 0–5The Australian cartoon about a family of dogs that play pretend. Praised by child development experts for showing imaginative play, emotion coaching and short episodes that end naturally.
PBS KIDS for ParentsPBS KIDS · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5PBS's parent site with activities that extend its shows into real life, plus short articles on media, emotions and learning. PBS shows are built on learning goals and tested with kids.
PBS KIDS VideoPBS KIDS · App · Free · Ages 0–5Free streaming of PBS shows like Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts, Molly of Denali and Peg + Cat. Each show has a stated learning goal, which makes it a simple default for young kids.
SciShow KidsComplexly · 2014 · Video · Free · Ages 5–8Short, friendly science videos for elementary kids, from why leaves change color to how magnets work. From the team behind SciShow and Crash Course.
Crash CourseComplexly · 2012 · Video · Free · Ages 8–12Free video courses on science, history and more, including a Crash Course Kids series for elementary science. Fast but well written; the main series suit older kids and teens.
CrunchLabsMark Rober · 2022 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12Former NASA engineer and YouTuber Mark Rober's subscription build kits, each paired with a video explaining the engineering. His free YouTube videos are a popular gateway to science; the kits are paid.
BrainPOPBrainPOP · 1999 · App · Paid · Ages 8–12Animated short lessons with quizzes across science, math, social studies and more, used widely in schools. Mostly sold to schools and families by subscription.
TED-EdTED · 2012 · Video · Free · Ages 8–12Free animated lessons on big questions in science, history and ideas, with questions and discussion prompts for each. Best for curious older kids and teens.

YouTube & how-to video

Many Turn to YouTube for Children's Content, News, How-To LessonsPew Research Center · 2018 · Report · FreeSurvey of about 4,600 US adults: half of YouTube users called it very important for learning how to do new things, and most parents of kids under 12 let them watch, though many said their child had run into unsuitable videos.
Parenting Children in the Age of ScreensPew Research Center · 2020 · Report · FreePew survey of US parents: most kids under 12 watched YouTube, parents worried about how much time kids spent on screens, and many said their child had come across videos unsuitable for their age.
Young Kids and YouTube: How Ads, Toys, and Games Dominate ViewingCommon Sense Media · 2020 · Report · Free · Ages 0–5Analysis of what children 8 and under actually watch on YouTube: mostly entertainment, heavy on toy unboxing and ads, with little educational content, and much of it on main YouTube rather than YouTube Kids.
Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube KidsCommon Sense Media · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5Plain walkthrough of the YouTube Kids app: the age modes, approved-content-only mode, turning off search, timers, and what still slips through. Practical setup help for parents of young kids.
Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTubeCommon Sense Media · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12Q&A-style guide to regular YouTube for families: supervised accounts, restricted mode, autoplay, comments, Shorts and how to talk with kids about what the algorithm serves up.
YouTube KidsGoogle / YouTube · 2015 · App · Free · Ages 5–8Google's separate app for kids, with Preschool, Younger and Older modes and an option where parents approve every channel. Filters are automated and imperfect, so approved-content mode is the safest setting.
YouTube Kids and YouTube Supervised Experiences: Viewing Options for FamiliesYouTube Help · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12Google's own explanation of the choices: YouTube Kids for younger children, a supervised YouTube account for preteens with content levels starting at 9+, and teen accounts. Notes that its filters make mistakes.
Video Improves Learning in Higher Education: A Systematic ReviewNoetel et al., Australian Catholic University · 2021 · Meta-analysis · Paid · TeensPooled 105 randomized trials: swapping video for usual teaching gave a small gain, and adding video on top of teaching gave a large one. The research is on college students, but it supports video as a learning aid rather than a replacement.
How Video Production Affects Student EngagementPhilip Guo, Juho Kim & Rob Rubin · 2014 · Study · Paid · TeensAnalysis of millions of edX video sessions: viewers stayed engaged with short videos (about six minutes or less), a talking person with slides, and an enthusiastic, fast-speaking presenter. A handy lens for judging how-to videos.
Is Online Video-Based Education an Effective Method to Teach Basic Surgical Skills? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysisMao et al. · 2022 · Meta-analysis · FreeHands-on skills like suturing were learned about as well from online video as from in-person teaching across 380 trainees. Not about kids, but one of the clearer tests of whether how-to video can teach physical skills.
FairplayFairplay (formerly Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood) · 2000 · Organization · FreeAdvocacy group that campaigns against marketing to children and design that keeps kids watching. It filed the complaint behind YouTube's 2019 FTC children's privacy settlement. An advocate, not a neutral source.

Pacing, attention & short video

★The Immediate Impact of Different Types of Television on Young Children's Executive FunctionAngeline Lillard & Jennifer Peterson · 2011 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5The study behind most pacing worries: 4-year-olds who watched nine minutes of a fast cartoon did worse right afterward on self-control and memory tasks than kids who drew or watched a slow show. Small sample and short-term only.
Early Television Exposure and Subsequent Attentional Problems in ChildrenChristakis, Zimmerman, DiGiuseppe & McCarty · 2004 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5A famous and contested study linking TV at ages 1 and 3 to attention problems at 7. Later reanalyses suggested the link was weaker and mostly among very heavy viewers. Worth knowing because it is still quoted.
The Relationship Between Television Exposure and Children's Cognition and Behaviour: A Systematic ReviewKostyrka-Allchorne, Cooper & Simpson · 2017 · Review · Paid · Ages 0–5Review of studies on TV and attention, self-control and learning. Concludes that content and context, including pacing and adult-directed shows, matter more than total hours, and that the evidence on fast editing is still thin.
★Feeds, Feelings, and Focus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Examining the Cognitive and Mental Health Correlates of Short-Form Video UseNguyen et al. · 2025 · Meta-analysis · Paid · TeensThe largest review so far on TikTok, Reels and Shorts. Heavier short-video use was linked to weaker attention and self-control and to poorer mental health scores. Nearly all included studies were cross-sectional and few involved young children.
Short-Form Video Media Use Is Associated With Greater Inattentive Symptoms in Thai School-Age ChildrenChiencharoenthanakij et al. · 2025 · Study · Free · Ages 5–8Hospital-based survey of parents of 6- to 12-year-olds: more short-video use went with more inattention symptoms. Cross-sectional, so it cannot say which comes first, but one of few studies on younger kids.
Association Between Short-Form Video Media Use and Inattentive, Hyperactive-Impulsive, and Oppositional Defiant Symptoms in Thai Preschool ChildrenAnuroj & Aroonkamonsri · 2026 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5New open-access study extending the short-video question to preschoolers, looking at attention, hyperactivity and defiance symptoms. Early, correlational evidence on a fast-growing habit.
Attention, Media Use, and ChildrenChildren and Screens · 2024 · Guide · FreeTip sheet by age on screens and focus: read aloud and co-view with little kids, keep phones out of reach during homework, limit notifications for teens, and watch behavior changes rather than only counting hours.
Brain Drain: The Mere Presence of One's Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive CapacityWard, Duke, Gneezy & Bos · 2017 · Study · Paid · TeensExperiments where students did worse on tests when their phone sat on the desk, even face down. Often quoted in phone-ban debates, but some later replication attempts did not find the effect.

Teens, phones & the Haidt debate

★The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental IllnessJonathan Haidt · 2024 · Book · Paid · TeensBestseller arguing that smartphones, social media and the loss of free play drove the rise in teen anxiety and depression after 2012. Proposes four norms: no smartphone before high school, no social media before 16, phone-free schools, more independence. Its causal claims are disputed.
The TAG Movement (The Anxious Generation)Jonathan Haidt & Alexa Arnold · 2024 · Organization · Free · Ages 8–12The campaign site that grew out of the book, with toolkits for parents, schools and lawmakers on delaying phones and social media and bringing back unsupervised play.
After BabelJonathan Haidt & Zach Rausch · 2023 · Newsletter · Free · TeensHaidt's Substack, where he and colleagues post the data behind the book, respond to critics, and track phone-free school policies. Useful to see the strongest version of the argument.
★The Great Rewiring: Is Social Media Really Behind an Epidemic of Teenage Mental Illness?Candice Odgers, Nature · 2024 · Review · Paid · TeensThe best-known critical review of The Anxious Generation by a developmental psychologist. She argues the book confuses correlation with cause, that most studies find small links, and that the panic may distract from real causes of teen distress.
The Association Between Adolescent Well-Being and Digital Technology UseAmy Orben & Andrew Przybylski, Oxford · 2019 · Study · Paid · TeensAnalyzed three huge datasets many different ways. Technology use explained about 0.4% of the variation in teen well-being, about as much as eating potatoes. A landmark of the skeptical side, though critics say averages can hide harm to some kids.
A Large-Scale Test of the Goldilocks HypothesisAndrew Przybylski & Netta Weinstein · 2017 · Study · Paid · TeensStudy of about 120,000 English 15-year-olds: moderate screen use was not linked to lower well-being, and only heavy use showed small negative links. The origin of the 'not too much, not too little' idea.
Annual Research Review: Adolescent Mental Health in the Digital Age: Facts, Fears, and Future DirectionsCandice Odgers & Michaeline Jensen · 2020 · Review · Free · TeensCareful review concluding that most links between teens' digital use and mental health are small and mixed, and that the bigger question is which teens are vulnerable and why.
Increases in Depressive Symptoms, Suicide-Related Outcomes, and Suicide Rates Among U.S. Adolescents After 2010 and Links to Increased New Media Screen TimeTwenge, Joiner, Rogers & Martin · 2017 · Study · Paid · TeensInfluential paper on the other side: teen depression and suicide measures rose after 2010 as smartphone use climbed, and heavier users reported more symptoms. Correlational; it helped start the current debate.
Social Media and Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General's AdvisoryU.S. Surgeon General (Vivek Murthy) · 2023 · Guide · Free · TeensFederal advisory saying there is not enough evidence to call social media safe for kids. Flags sleep loss, harmful content and heavy use, and asks families, schools, companies and lawmakers to act, while admitting the research has big gaps.
Health Advisory on Social Media Use in AdolescenceAmerican Psychological Association · 2023 · Guide · Free · TeensTen research-based recommendations from psychologists: social media is not good or bad in itself, so focus on what teens do on it, adult monitoring for younger teens, protecting sleep and exercise, and teaching media literacy.
Social Media and Adolescent HealthNational Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine · 2023 · Report · Free · TeensA national expert panel found the evidence does not support the claim that social media causes population-wide harm to teen health, while noting real risks for some teens. Recommends platform standards and more research. Free PDF.
Techno SapiensJacqueline Nesi, Brown University · Newsletter · FreeNewsletter by a clinical psychologist who researches teens and social media. Explains new studies on phones, screens and kids in a balanced, practical way.

Phone-free schools & delay pledges

School Phone Policies and Their Association With Mental Wellbeing, Phone Use, and Social Media Use (SMART Schools)Victoria Goodyear et al., University of Birmingham · 2025 · Study · Free · TeensCompared 1,227 students at 30 English secondary schools. Strict phone bans were not linked to better well-being, sleep or grades. But more phone and social media time overall was linked to worse outcomes. Suggests bans alone are not enough.
Ill Communication: Technology, Distraction and Student PerformanceLouis-Philippe Beland & Richard Murphy, LSE · 2016 · Study · Free · TeensEnglish schools that banned phones saw test scores rise afterward, with the biggest gains for lower-achieving students. Often cited in favor of bans; it was observational and from a time before most kids had smartphones.
The Case for Phone-Free SchoolsJonathan Haidt · 2023 · Article · Free · TeensHaidt's argument that only lockers or locked pouches truly make schools phone-free, with the studies he relies on. He acknowledges the evidence is mostly correlational and calls for randomized trials.
Global Education Monitoring Report 2023: Technology in EducationUNESCO · 2023 · Report · FreeUNESCO's global review of ed tech, which made headlines by saying smartphones belong in school only when they clearly help learning, and that about one in four countries already restricted them.
72% of U.S. High School Teachers Say Cellphone Distraction Is a Major Problem in the ClassroomPew Research Center · 2024 · Report · Free · TeensShort Pew survey piece: 72% of US high school teachers call phone distraction a major problem in class, far more than teachers of younger grades. Useful context for school policy debates.
Wait Until 8thWait Until 8th · 2017 · Community · Free · Ages 8–12Parent pledge to hold off on a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade. It only activates when 10 families in the same grade sign, so no child is the only one without. Basic phones and watches are allowed.
Smartphone Free ChildhoodSmartphone Free Childhood · 2024 · Community · Free · Ages 8–12Grassroots movement that started in the UK and spread to other countries, helping parents in the same school agree to delay smartphones together. Offers a pact, local groups and talking points.
Phone-Free Schools MovementPhone-Free Schools Movement · 2023 · Organization · Free · TeensParent-founded nonprofit that helps families and school districts adopt bell-to-bell phone-free policies, with toolkits, sample letters and a tracker of state laws. An advocacy group, so it presents the case for bans.

Big studies & surveys

★The 2025 Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Zero to EightCommon Sense Media · 2025 · Report · Free · Ages 0–5The standard US survey of young kids' screen habits. Daily screen time held at about 2.5 hours, short-form video and gaming grew, TV fell, 40% of kids had a tablet by age 2, and nearly one in four had a phone by 8.
The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens, 2021Common Sense Media · 2021 · Report · Free · Ages 8–12Survey of 8- to 18-year-olds: screen entertainment rose sharply during the pandemic, and online video was the favorite activity for both tweens and teens.
Constant Companion: A Week in the Life of a Young Person's Smartphone UseCommon Sense Media · 2023 · Report · Free · TeensTracked real phone data from about 200 kids 11 to 17: a median of over four hours a day and hundreds of notifications, many during school and at night. Concrete numbers for school phone talks.
How Parents Approach Their Kids' Screen TimePew Research Center · 2025 · Report · Free · Ages 8–12Survey of US parents of kids 12 and under: 86% have screen rules but only 19% always stick to them, two-thirds say they use their own phone too much, and most want tech companies to do more.
Teens, Social Media and Technology 2024Pew Research Center · 2024 · Report · Free · TeensAnnual survey of US teens: YouTube is used by about nine in ten, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat follow, and nearly half say they are online almost constantly.
Young Children's Use of Smartphones and TabletsJenny Radesky et al., University of Michigan · 2020 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Tracked the actual tablet and phone use of about 350 preschoolers. Use ranged from minutes to hours a day, YouTube was among the most-used apps, and many kids used apps meant for adults.
Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) StudyNIH-funded consortium · 2015 · Data · Free · Ages 8–12The largest long-term US study of brain development, following nearly 12,000 children from ages 9-10 into adulthood, with detailed screen, gaming and social media measures. Source of many recent screen headlines.
Screen Time and Early Adolescent Mental Health, Academic, and Social Outcomes in 9- and 10-Year-Old Children: Utilizing the ABCD StudyPaulich, Ross, Lessem & Hewitt · 2021 · Study · Free · Ages 8–12Using about 11,900 ABCD kids, more screen time went with slightly worse mental health, sleep and grades but better friendships. Effects were small, family income mattered more, and the authors say screens are unlikely to be directly harmful at this age.