How Strictly Do I Need to Follow the “Zero Screen Time” Rule for Under-2s?
- Orsolya Majoros
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
(Approx. 5 minute read)
"Zero screen time?" - what do I do?
Recent discussions around “zero screen time” for children under two have left many parents asking an understandable question: how strictly do I need to follow this advice?
The short answer is — try not to think of it as a rule to follow perfectly. It is better understood as guidance based on what young children need most for healthy development.
Babies and toddlers learn primarily through direct interaction with people and the world around them — through movement, sensory experiences, conversation, relationships and play. This is why experts tend to recommend keeping passive screen use very limited in the early years, particularly under two. Rather than focusing on whether occasional screen use is “allowed”, it may be more helpful to think about balance. If screen time is a small part of your child’s day and there are plenty of opportunities for play, communication, movement and shared experiences, that is already a strong foundation.
What to do instead of screen time?
One question parents often ask is: If I reduce screen time, what should I offer instead?
The encouraging answer is that young children are often most engaged by very simple things. For babies, repeated play can be deeply absorbing and hugely valuable for development.
Like splashing water:
Rolling balls:
Posting objects into containers or pressing buttons:
Exploring mirrors or opening and closing things:
These all support concentration, coordination, problem solving and early communication. What may look repetitive to adults is often rich learning for a child.
In early years we sometimes talk about schemas — repeated patterns of play through which children explore ideas. Children often learn by revisiting actions many times, rather than constantly needing something new. Sometimes the best alternative to screen time is not a complicated activity, but allowing children time to stay with what interests them.
What to do with toddlers and preschoolers instead?
As children grow into toddlerhood and preschool, those same interests often develop into imaginative, physical and story-based play.
This week at nursery, our traditional tales theme offered lovely examples of this:
Through The Princess and the Pea, children explored sensory storytelling with peas, castles and small world resources, supporting language and imagination.
With The Enormous Turnip, they pulled vegetables from “soil” and acted out the story using a resistance band, combining physical development with teamwork and problem solving.
In Goldilocks, story exploration linked naturally with scissor skills and fine motor development.
And in Jack and the Beanstalk, numbered leaves climbing a cardboard beanstalk encouraged counting, sequence and early mathematical thinking.
These kinds of activities can be recreated simply at home too. Favourite stories can inspire role play, sensory trays, counting games, den building or small world play using everyday resources. Often reducing screen time is less about taking something away and more about offering engaging alternatives. Of course, not all screen time is the same.
Shared screen-time
Shared, calm and age-appropriate content — for example Bluey or Hey Duggee — can be very different from prolonged passive or overstimulating viewing. Watching together, talking about what is happening and extending ideas into off-screen play can make screen use much more meaningful. Quality and context matter. And it is worth remembering that guidance should support parents, not make them feel anxious. If your child has some screen time here and there, try not to worry too much. It may be more helpful to look at the bigger picture: is screen time balanced with plenty of play, movement and interaction? If so, that balance is likely serving your child well.
At nursery
At Fun Box Day Nursery, we keep screens to a very limited role because we see every day how much learning happens through hands-on experiences, stories, movement, conversation and play. Children do not need constant entertainment to be engaged. Very often, simple shared experiences — repeated again and again — are where some of the richest learning happens.
And perhaps that is the most reassuring message in all of this:
The goal is not perfect “zero screen time”.
It is helping children have a healthy balance of connection, play and real-world experiences in the early years. 💛
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