Recommendations for Parents and Caretakers

Technology offers extraordinary opportunities for our youth, but navigating the digital world is a complex task that children cannot handle alone. Pediatricians and medical professionals recommend that children aged 0 to 6 should not have screen time, as there is no safe exposure time. As an exception, brief supervised use may be allowed for specific purposes, such as reading a story or singing a song.

 

For children aged 7 to 12, screen time should be limited to less than one hour per day, including schoolwork. It is essential to restrict the use of internet-connected devices and prioritize protective factors such as sports, face-to-face social interactions, and a healthy lifestyle. If devices are used, they should be stationary, avoided in bathrooms and bedrooms, and always supervised by an adult, with clear limits on time and content.

 

For teenagers aged 13 to 16, screen time should not exceed two hours per day, including schoolwork. If device use is allowed, parental control tools should be installed, and non-internet-connected phones should be prioritized. Additionally, delaying the age at which a child receives their first smartphone with internet access is recommended.

 

The following recommendations provide clear and practical guidance for parents and caregivers to help young people navigate digital spaces safely and develop healthy technology habits.

 

The following recommendations provide clear, actionable guidance for parents and caregivers to help youth safely navigate digital spaces while developing healthy technology habits.

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  1. Set Device-Free Zones and Times

    Designate specific places (bedrooms, dinner table) and times (meals, one hour before bedtime) as technology-free. This promotes better sleep, family connection, and helps children develop the ability to be present without digital distractions.

  2. Use Parental Controls Effectively

    Implement age-appropriate content filters, privacy settings, and time limits using built-in tools on your child’s devices and platforms. Regularly review and adjust these controls as your child matures and demonstrates responsible behavior.

  3. Practice “Side-by-Side” Media Engagement

    Regularly participate in your child’s digital activities to understand their interests and provide real-time guidance. Co-viewing and co-playing creates opportunities for meaningful discussions about content, online interactions, and digital citizenship.

  4. Establish Clear Consequences

    Create and consistently enforce specific rules about what happens when digital boundaries are crossed. Ensure consequences are related to the behavior (e.g., temporarily reducing screen time for misuse) and focus on learning rather than punishment.

  5. Teach Privacy Protection

    Show your child how to safeguard personal information, create strong passwords, recognize scams, and understand data collection. Help them grasp that once information is shared online, it may become permanently accessible to others.

  6. Build Digital Resilience

    Equip your child with strategies to handle cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and peer pressure. Teach them when to block or report harmful content, when to disengage from negative interactions, and when to seek adult help.

  7. Create a Family Tech Agreement

    Develop a written contract together that clearly outlines expectations for device use, digital behavior, and safety practices. Review and revise this agreement as children mature and technology evolves.

  8. Balance Online and Offline Activities

    Ensure your child engages in regular physical activity (at least 60 minutes daily), face-to-face social interactions, and non-digital creative pursuits. Schedule technology breaks and model this balance in your own habits.

  9. Coordinate Policies with Other Parents

    Work together with other parents to establish and agree on specific policies regarding technology use, ensuring consistency across peer groups and environments.

  10. Delay Personal Use of Smart Devices

    Postpone the introduction of smartphones and tablets for personal use by children until at least 16 years old, promoting gradual and responsible adoption of technology.

  11. Encourage Outdoor and Social Sports

    Provide incentives for children to participate in outdoor activities and social sports to foster healthy habits and reduce screen dependency.

  12. Discuss Real-World Risks

    Engage in joint exploration of public cases where teenagers and adolescents have encountered risky situations, including those with tragic consequences, to educate and promote responsible decision-making.

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(Spanish Association of Pediatrics)

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