Academy Of Pediatrics Alters Recommendations For Children's Media Use

BOSTON (CBS) – The American Academy of Pediatrics is changing its stance on screen time for young children.

Previously, the organization recommended no screen time on electronic devices until the age of two.

But the AAP released new recommendations this week. Now the group says children under 18 months should not use devices unless it is for video chatting.

Parents should choose "high-quality programming" for children between 18 and 24 months. AAP suggests parents watch with their children to help them understand what they are seeing.

Children 2-5 years old should have their screen time limited to one hour per day and children six and older are recommended to have consistent limits on the amount of time they are spending using media.

"Families should proactively think about their children's media use and talk with children about it, because too much media use can mean that children don't have enough time during the day to play, study, talk, or sleep," said Jenny Radesky, lead author of the policy statement

Radesky adds that the most important aspect of the new guidelines is parents should serve as their child's "media mentor," teaching them how to use technology as a learning tool.