Article

Screen time without guilt: what European guidance says

A calm sense of direction, instead of pressure to be perfect about tablets and TV.

Everyday Parenting2026-05-151 min read

Screens are part of our lives – mums are allowed to use them without feeling ashamed.

A rough orientation

  • Before the 2nd birthday: keep screens as sparing as possible, ideally watched together.
  • Between 2 and 5 years: short, age-appropriate content with company helps.
  • School-age children: agree on fixed, predictable times and choose content together.

Bringing it gently into everyday life

  • Build in movement or time in nature before and after screen time.
  • Try keeping meals and the bedroom as screen-free zones.
  • A parent's own behaviour is more powerful than any rule – small breaks of your own help.

When it slips away

  • For conflict or worry: talk to your paediatrician, a parenting counsellor or a media-education specialist.
  • Avoid comparison – every family finds its own measure.

You're not a worse mum because your child watched an episode.