What’s New in Espoo

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has published new screen time recommendations for children.

Children need interaction, play, reading, physical activity, outdoor time, regular meals and enough sleep. Adults must limit screen time when necessary. It is good for young children to use digital content together with an adult.

Experts do not recommend any screen time for children under 2 years old.
Family video calls or looking at photos together can be exceptions.

For children aged 2–5 years, experts recommend a maximum of one hour of screen time per day.

Children can listen to music, stories and audiobooks without watching a screen.

For children aged 6–10 years, experts recommend a maximum of one hour of screen time per day. 

For children aged 11–13 years, the recommendation is a maximum of two hours per day.

Occasionally children can use devices more. Watching movies together as a family or playing games with friends can be good shared activities from time to time.

Experts do not recommend a personal smartphone for 6–13-year-olds.

If parents want to buy a phone for a child in this age group, they should choose a phone with only limited features, such as calling and messaging.

Parents must ensure that the child uses the phone responsibly. A child does not need their own device to learn digital skills.

• Do not let your child use screens right before bedtime.
• Do not use digital devices to calm your child down.
• Follow age limits for apps, games and programmes. Children under 13 are not allowed to use social media services.
• Children should watch only age-appropriate content that supports their wellbeing.
  Do not let your child watch violent, sexual or substance-related content.
• Talk with your child about the content they see. Practise safe digital use together.
• Make sure that restrictions are installed on the child’s device. Ensure that your child cannot secretly use adults’ devices.
• Your own digital habits serve as an example. It is harmful for children if parents spend too much time on their screens.

If you are worried about your child's digital device use, you can ask for help from maternity and child health clinics, school welfare services, social services or organisations.

• Screen time recommendations in English(external link, opens in a new window)
• Screen time recommendations in Ukrainian(external link, opens in a new window)
• Screen time recommendations in Russian(external link, opens in a new window)