Screens are part of family life, and most parents aren't asking whether their child will use one — they're asking how much and which apps. This guide summarizes what major health organizations recommend and gives you a simple checklist for picking apps that are worth your child's time.
What do the guidelines say?
The World Health Organization recommends that children under two have no sedentary screen time, and that children aged two to four have no more than one hour a day — with less being better. The American Academy of Pediatrics similarly suggests avoiding screen media (other than video chatting) for children under 18–24 months, and limiting screen use for children aged two to five to about one hour a day of high-quality programming, ideally watched or played together with a parent.
For children aged six and older, the focus shifts from strict limits to balance: making sure screens don't replace sleep, physical activity, play and time with family.
These are guidelines, not rules to feel guilty about. The quality of what children do on screens, and whether an adult is involved, matter just as much as the minutes.
Active beats passive
Watching video after video is passive. Apps where children make decisions, create something or solve problems are active. Coloring a picture, tracing a letter or connecting dots in order all require thinking and hand control — very different from endless scrolling.
A checklist for choosing a good kids' app
Is it genuinely for children?
- Designed for your child's age, with big buttons and simple screens.
- No chat with strangers and no social features.
- Content free from violence and scary themes.
Does it respect privacy?
- No need to create an account or enter personal details about your child.
- A clear privacy policy that explains what data is collected — ideally, very little.
- Listed in Google Play's "Teacher Approved" or family sections, or clearly stating it follows children's privacy rules such as COPPA.
How does it handle ads and purchases?
- Ads, if any, are child-appropriate and non-personalized.
- No ads interrupting the activity itself.
- Purchases and outside links are behind a parent gate — a simple challenge a young child can't pass.
- No pressure tactics like countdown timers or "buy now" characters.
Is it actually educational?
- Your child is doing, not just watching.
- There's a clear skill involved: counting, letters, colors, fine motor control, creativity.
- It gives encouraging feedback without constant flashing rewards.
Does it have a natural end point?
- Activities finish — a picture is completed, a letter is traced — rather than running forever.
- No autoplay pulling children into the next thing.
Making screen time work for your family
- Play together when you can, especially with younger children. Talk about what they're doing.
- Set predictable times, like after lunch, rather than using screens only to stop tears.
- Keep screens out of bedrooms and away from the hour before sleep.
- Balance it with outdoor play, books and hands-on activities like play dough and crayons.
- Model it. Children notice how grown-ups use their phones.
How Doodlebari approaches this
We built Doodlebari with these principles: no accounts, no chat, drawings stored only on the device, child-directed non-personalized ads in the free app (never on the drawing screens), and every purchase or link behind a parent gate. On the website, children can color, draw, trace letters and connect the dots with nothing to sign up for. You can read the details in our privacy policy.
Frequently asked questions
How much screen time is okay for a 3-year-old?
The WHO and the AAP both suggest no more than about one hour a day of high-quality content for children aged two to five, ideally shared with an adult.
Are educational apps better than TV?
Interactive apps that ask children to create or solve problems are generally more engaging than passive viewing, but quality varies a lot. Use the checklist above.
What is a parent gate?
It's a simple challenge — like solving a sum or holding a button — that stops young children from making purchases or leaving the app without an adult.
