Fun and interactive music apps for children including free music apps 

Research has shown that music learning provides important health, social, and cognitive development benefits for ...

Loopimal
Build loops, build sequences, and make music in no time with one of the most celebrated music apps for kids. Every aspect is beautifully designed and the music is sure to delight little kids and even discerning adult ears. You can choose from nine animals and start dragging and dropping shapes to form unique musical patterns. Don’t be surprised if your animals of choice start whistling and dancing along!
App Store

Sesame Street Makes Music
Sesame Street presents a music making experience that exposes kids to six different instruments and allows them to play six different popular songs with Abby, Cookie Monster, Elmo, and Ernie. Kids can hear different genres of music from around the world and explore tempo and beats by playing instruments fast and slow. These include a reggae version of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” and a jug band rendition of “Old MacDonald.”
App Store

Lullaby Songs For Sleep
It only takes one tap to start playing a soothing lullaby to help your baby fall asleep. If you’ve tried different lullaby apps before, this one may be the end of your search. Featuring 24 different well known melodies, this app won’t interrupt your experience with intrusive ads or pop up banners, and has a timer so you can set down your phone or tablet or use another app while the lullaby plays in the background.
App Store

Baby Mozart
Classical music has been shown to be beneficial for young children, which explains why parents have been known to play it in the background even before their kids were born. This app makes it as easy as possible to pick music from popular composers like Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart, plus well known nursery rhymes like Hush Little Baby. There’s even white noise options to help put your baby to sleep, plus child friendly animations and flashcards with dinosaurs, animals, numbers, and letters.
App Store

Mussila Music School
Mussila Music School offers an entire world of musical education for free that allows kids to explore and learn on their own. Kids can choose between four paths: learn, play, create, and practice. They can learn music theory fundamentals like identifying notes, tempos, and reading sheet music. They can play the piano and learn familiar nursery rhymes all the way up to more advanced pieces. They can create their own songs with easy object oriented tools. And they can also practice their instruments and sharpen their rhythm and melody skills.
App Store
Play Store

Spotify Kids
Everything you love about Spotify but for kids! Your children can enjoy kid-friendly content handpicked for them like movie hits, party jams, bedtime tunes, and audiobooks, and even soundtrack their day from playtime to bedtime. You can preselect whether they get content for all ages, for younger kids, or older kids. Plus there’s no interruptive ads that may not be suitable for children.
App Store
Play Store

Musical Me!
Another music education app that helps kids apply their imaginations with sound in as few steps as possible. Kids will learn musical fundamentals like notes, rhythm, and pitch with interactive activities led by Mozzarella the Mouse. They can listen and copy note patterns, tap and drag characters to make them dance to the beat, and move notes on the staff to create their own melodies.
App Store

Melody Jams
Melody Jams is a beautifully illustrated world of fun characters that invite your little ones to join their band. They can mix different melodies, play along with virtual instruments, get to know the different monsters, and start performing “live!” There are no in-app purchases or ads to interrupt band practice either.
App Store

Baby’s Musical Hands
Baby’s Musical Hands is perfect for the littlest music learner in your family. It features 15 brightly colored squares that your baby can touch. Red squares make drum sounds, yellow squares are piano notes, and blue squares are guitar notes. It doesn’t get simpler than that!
App Store

Sago Mini Music Box
Go on a musical adventure with three furry friends. Explore the sky with Jinja the cat, sail the seas with Harvey the dog, and play in the snow with Jack the rabbit. Each setting has unique music and art that’s perfect for toddlers. There’s also no in-app purchases or interruptive ads so your child can explore without distractions.
App Store
Play Store

Music Sparkles
If you’re looking for the most digital instruments for your little one to experiment with, Music Sparkles is the app for you. There are 14 different instruments to choose from, including percussion, string, and wind instruments. You’ll have to purchase some instruments to get the full set, but you can also disable in-app purchases on your device.
App Store

Piano Maestro
If you’re looking to hone in on just the piano and keyboard, Piano Maestro is one of the most popular and advanced piano education apps available. In fact, the app will actually recognize the notes being played on a real piano or keyboard, which makes it the perfect educational accompaniment.
App Store

Fun and interactive music apps for children including free music apps

12 best music apps for kids

Develop a love of music and learn useful skills with the best music apps for kids including free apps and some that are worth a purchase.

Online and printable coloring games to spark their creativity

Coloring books were likely a fixture of our childhoods at home and at school. They ...

Sesame Street Art Maker
Elmo has more than a dozen different coloring games for little kids to enjoy, with each offering a unique theme. They can choose between painting the night sky, a birthday cake, a pizza, or Sesame Street’s very own Cookie Monster. Elmo has encouraging directions for each game and some of the painting options offer a fun surprise.

Animals Coloring Book
This lovable coloring game is as simple as it gets, but we love the ability to instantly save any image so you can keep your child’s creations forever. You could even set it as your desktop wallpaper! All you have to do is pick an animal, pick your colors, and start coloring.

Happy Crayons
These happy crayons are ready to color! Choose from 36 different drawings including outlines of animals, foods, and fun objects, and start coloring in the lines or outside of the lines, whichever you prefer. Saving finished pictures is also easy, and you’ll be coming back to this free online coloring game again.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
Drag and drop characters from Daniel Tiger’s neighborhood and place them anywhere on the screen to create your own scene to color. From there it’s as simple as choosing your colors and painting between the lines. Each scene can be as simple or elaborate as you like!

Creative Puzzle
This one’s more than just a coloring game – it’s a feature-rich puzzle, coloring, and memory game with multiple levels and a list of achievements you accrue as you play. Each level is a picture that you have to replicate by coloring, either from memory, or by trying out different colors. If your kids are looking for a little more of a challenge than your average coloring game, this is a great option.

Creative Coloring For Kids
This game takes the same premise of Creative Puzzle, but with even more complex images and a different set of colors. Each image can feature more than five different colors, so you have to memorize a lot of details or try as many different color combinations as you need. If it gets too hard, don’t worry! You can always see the original image again.

Sarah and Duck Colouring Game
Another casual and fun coloring game where you can pick one of 10 different pictures of Sarah and Duck to color with a unique palette. The best part of this game is the adorable audio encouragement from the characters to let you know you’re doing a great job.

Mosaic Artimo
Join Artimo the tiger on his quest to color in all the mosaics in the jungle. The game is simple at first glance, but there are many levels to advance through, and the mosaics get more complex. All you have to do is follow the guide for which mosaic tiles to color in each round.

Crayola Coloring Pages
Online coloring games are great fun for kids, but there’s still a place for the old-fashioned paper coloring pages too. If you have a set of crayons or colored pencils at home, all you have to do is print these coloring pages directly from Crayola’s official website. There are more than a dozen different categories, including seasons, vehicles, celebrations, and even Disney characters.

Super Coloring Pages
If you can’t get enough coloring at home, there are literally thousands of different coloring pages to print for your kids from this site. We’re particularly fond of all the different animal images that are both fun to color and interesting to learn about. Beyond the usual black and white outline pages, there are also dot to dot images and even step-by-step drawing tutorials.

Just Color Kids Coloring Pages
If you’re looking for unique coloring pages you probably won’t find anywhere else, we recommend this site that features dozens of different popular media and entertainment properties your kids will recognize. They can color in pictures of their favorite TV and movie characters, and if that’s not educational enough, you can even pick works by well known artists throughout history.

Color by Number
Color by number is a popular coloring game that even adults often enjoy. The premise is simple – you color in squares in the images based on the color assigned to it. Zoom in to fill in the details and zoom out to see the bigger picture until you finish. You can even close the game and come back with your progress still saved. With this game you can color by number online and never have to worry about pen or paper.

Toonia Colorbook
Instead of asking what are the best coloring books, we’re asking what are the best coloring games. Well, the Toonia Colorbook is basically a digital coloring book in an app. There are 160 different pages across 20 different themes with more than 100 different colors and patterns. Easy mode allows your children to always color in the lines, but you can turn this off to let their imagination run wild.

Colorfy: Art Coloring Game
Is the Colorfy app free? It’s definitely free to download, and you can subscribe for weekly updates of new coloring pages. This is one of the most popular coloring apps that adults also enjoy because of the rich and detailed images and coloring methods.

Paint By Number Coloring Games
This is one of the best free color by number apps available, with unique and vivid color palettes that go way beyond your usual crayon pack. The basic idea is straightforward, but there are plenty of in-app challenges like puzzles that make this more engaging than just another coloring game.

The best free coloring games for kids

Check out the best free coloring games and printable coloring pages for kids.

Safe activities during quarantine and staying at home

Parents around the world have had to get creative for the past two years to ...

Here are 25 activities that kids will love that are perfect for staying home.

Read to them
This one is simple. And if you can’t read to them, there are also great children’s audiobooks through streaming services like Audible or on YouTube.

Pick your favorite photos
Go through the hundreds or thousands of pictures of your kid and your family together to pick some of your favorite ones.

Make a scrapbook
Print out your favorite pictures and make a scrapbook, whether that’s on a device or the old fashioned way with a physical book with printed out photos.

Cook together
Prepare a dish that’s very simple where your child can contribute from beginning to end, or make something slightly more complicated where you show your child exactly how the more difficult things are done.

Have a scavenger hunt
Create your own scavenger hunt items and play in your home or in a safe area.

Make paper planes
Whether you fold paper planes from memory or consult an expert, make your best planes and fly them.

Learn origami
If paper planes aren’t challenging enough, learn how to fold more intricate shapes like cranes and even cats and elephants.

Do a puzzle
Pick a puzzle with pieces that are safe for your child’s age and complete it together.

Play a Zoom game
A Zoom game like Guess Who keeps kids guessing and helps them remember important clues.

Take a virtual field trip
Tour through thousands of museums around the world with Google Arts & Culture, see the animals at the San Diego Zoo, check in on animals on a 24 hour webcam, or tour through natural landscapes with the American National Park Service.

Have a movie marathon
Pick your child’s favorite genre or a series of movies and pick a day to watch them all together. Don’t forget nutritious snacks and remember to take breaks so you’re not sitting or lying down all day.

Color pictures in a coloring book
Whether it’s a digital or physical coloring book, there are plenty of fun images to color together.

Take a quiz online
Major publishers like National Geographic have free quizzes about animals, science, and the natural world. If your kid really catches the learning bug, then there are plenty of fantastic educational apps about math, reading, colors, shapes, and more to choose from.

Host a virtual party
Get a group of friends and parents together for a Zoom-based party where you can even do any of the activities on this list together.

Write postcards for friends and family
Pick fun postcards together, write short messages, and send the cards off. This is another activity that can be done offline or online with e-card services like Blue Mountain.

Make a time capsule
Fill a container with special objects from around the house and set a date in the future to open it.

Act out favorite scenes
Pick some of your favorite scenes from TV shows, movies, or even plays, and act them out for your kids or try doing it together.

Draw pictures of things from memory
Take turns drawing animals, objects, and others from memory with a pen and paper. It’s much harder than it sounds!

Build a LEGO set
Pick an age-appropriate set in your price range and build it together.

Learn country names
Look at a map of the world and learn the names of countries, or dive deeper into geographic information using an app like Barefoot World Atlas.

Build a fort
This one’s timeless. Build a fort out of blankets, pillows, and chairs. If you’re looking to take this activity to the next level, try crafting your own construction materials from old boxes or other household objects.

Make a collage
Pick up a few kid-friendly magazines and cut out your favorite images and paste them onto a collage.

Guessing games
Play different animal sounds or the sounds of different instruments and have your kids guess what the sound is.

Try a completely new food
Whether it’s a full dish or one exotic new snack, try a new food together and compare your reactions. As a bonus, this is a great way for kids to learn about new countries and cultures.

Dance party
When all else fails, put on some upbeat music and get the wiggles out. Kidz Bop is always up to date with their covers of popular songs, and is available in both English and German.

This list could go on and on, with dozens more safe activities for kids during COVID that have helped us stay sane. Despite the fact that we’ve had to be extra careful for the past two years and counting, and spent much more time inside than we might have liked, many of these activities have helped our families grow closer, and we’ve made plenty of great memories doing these activities. Next time you’re facing a quarantine or an extended time inside the house, consult this list or try a completely new activity and share it with other parents.

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25 activities for kids during COVID

Our guide to safe, family-friendly, and fun quarantine activities to keep your kids entertained at home during COVID.

These virtual activities for kids are interesting for the whole family

Keeping our children active and entertained seems like a never ending process, but we’ve all ...

Take a museum tour
Tour through hundreds of museums around the world with Google Arts & Culture, from the MoMA in New York to the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, and so many in between. Whether you’re interested in art, science, nature, music, or other cultural curiosities, there’s a museum out there for you to learn about.

Go to the zoo
See the animals at the San Diego Zoo on camera, whether you catch them on a live stream during daytime in San Diego, or on a rebroadcast during the night. You can also learn more about all the animals like koalas and giraffes, and learn more about the zoo’s conservation efforts.

See animals in real time
Check in on various animals in their natural habitats and in zoos around the world on 24 hour webcam streams. Whether you’re interested in bald eagles hanging out in their nests or just a little of puppies in their nursery, there’s interesting animals for every kid to watch and grow closer to.

Explore a national park
Take a virtual tour with the American National Park Service, including a stunning 360 degree video of Crater Lake or a live ocean webcam in the Channel Islands.

See the northern lights
Stream the northern lights in real time with Explore. Situated in the Churchill Northern Studies Center in Churchill, Manitoba in Canada, this live cam has one of the best views of the aurora borealis. February and March are the best times to view the lights in all their splendor.

Take a singing lesson
Learn how to sing, write music, and perform from the School of Rock, an online music school for all ages. There are classes for every age group from 3-5 all the way to 18.

Sing along online
Enjoy virtual karaoke with kid-friendly songs by following along with premade videos on YouTube for classic kids songs and nursery rhymes. All you have to do is search “kids karaoke” and choose your favorites.

Start learning a bit of everything
Take a class on any number of subjects for any level with Khan Academy, the internet’s most comprehensive free school. Kids can take math and reading courses from pre-K to 8th grade, and even high school and college level courses.

Try learning a new language
Apps like Duolingo make the learning experience fun and accessible for every age with game-like engagement and encouragement.

Trek the globe
Go anywhere on earth with the interactive Barefoot World Atlas, which includes fun facts about areas all over the world.

Play with shapes
Your little ones will love sorting and matching shapes on the Goodness Shapes app, learning their names and colors.

Play with numbers
Apps like Prodigy make learning math interactive and fun! Players answer math questions to complete epic quests and earn in-game rewards. Students saw their enjoyment of math and test scores increase after playing the game.

Try a virtual exercise class
There are follow along exercise videos that kids and parents can enjoy together without any experience or equipment. There are plenty of options on YouTube to choose from that are easy to find and free.

Learn to cook
Like exercise, this one crosses from the online world to the offline world as you can cook along with the instructions from a video. You can choose a simple recipe that your little ones can complete from start to finish, or a more complex recipe where your kids help with just a few of the steps.

Learn about space
NASA’s kids club makes it fun and easy to learn space related topics from the comfort of your home with informative games, videos, and slideshows.

Play a Zoom game
A Zoom game like Guess Who keeps kids guessing and helps them remember important clues!

Host a virtual party
Get a group of friends and parents together for a Zoom-based party where you can even do any of the activities on this list together. There are also many fun Zoom games for kids that you can expand to include more people.

Break out of a virtual escape room
There are many online escape room options to choose from where you can solve riddles and collect clues with your kids to escape together. This Hogwarts Digital Escape Room is one of many themed options on this list.

Learn to paint
Services like Sparketh offer thousands of art lessons for kids of all ages and skill levels. There are over 1,000 art video lessons that only require basic art supplies, which means there’s plenty of drawing and painting to do if your kids ever get bored online.

Watch educational videos
Web series like Crash Course Kids cover a myriad of topics that you and your kids can choose from. There’s no shortage of things for kids to do online when they’re interested in engaging with content and learning something as well.

Learn a magic trick
Kids as young as 2 can learn their first magic trick with the Ultimate Magic Academy or from the many videos that make it easy to follow along.

Listen to an audiobook
Stream a reading of a timeless children’s book online and listen along for hours of entertainment.

Do a DIY project
Follow along with video instructions for simple DIY crafts projects. These are physical activities that double as virtual activities for kids.

Do a science experiment
Follow along with video instructions for simple home science experiments like constructing a homemade lava lamp or whipping up a tornado in a bottle.

Dance party
Put on some of your kids’ favorite songs and host a little dance party.

25 online activities for kids that are safe and fun

Our guide to the best online activities for kids that parents can also enjoy, from museum tours to educational games.

Planning a family vacation? Your holiday checklist is probably overflowing with itinerary details, confirmation codes, ...

Watch a movie
Let’s start with the tried and tested solutions for keeping your kids happy and sane during long flights. Watching a movie you downloaded in advance with comfortable headphones is always a convenient way to help your kids relax.

Watch a series
If a movie gets too tiring for your little ones to watch on the plane, there are plenty of TV series for kids that will help make time go by quickly. At Totoli, we’re particularly keen on series that are fun, balanced, and sometimes educational, like the ones we’ll be featuring in our tablets soon.

Play a coloring game
Coloring is one of those activities that can be as care-free or as focused as your kids want it to be. There are many great coloring apps like Toonia and Colorfy plus many more online that you can access if your flight has WiFi. Check out our list of the best free coloring games for kids to see more options.

Play a music game
Another one of our favorite creative activities for kids on planes is playing a music game where kids can improvise freely or even practice key musical ideas and practices on a virtual instrument. Check out our list of the best music apps for kids for our top recommendations.

Play a puzzle game
Another category of games on your phone or tablet that kids enjoy to relax on planes is solving puzzles. There are options suitable for most ages so you can entertain a 3 year old on a long flight or keep a 6 year old busy on a plane without a problem.

Listen to an audiobook
Just like we’ve done on many long drives, one of the best activities for kids on the plane is to listen to an audiobook. There’s a large library of audiobooks for kids on providers like Audible and free options for streaming and downloading on Spotify as well.

Listen to an album
If audiobooks aren’t your thing, download a bunch of your kids’ favorite albums in advance and give them a comfortable pair of headphones to relax and enjoy some calming music.

Listen to a playlist
Making playlists for our kids is one of our favorite activities anyway, so we get excited about building a fresh playlist just for the plane. For older kids, this is even a nice opportunity to co-listen to songs you both enjoy.

Read a book
If your kids love to read, then the question of how to keep kids busy on a plane is solved with a good book. Just make sure you avoid books with sound that are lots of fun at home, but may not be the best on a flight.

Read to your kids
If your kids are having a hard time reading alone, reading to them quietly is a great way to stay connected with them and help them manage their mood while passing the time as well.

Play a card game
This one has multiple possibilities! You can go for a premade option like Uno or bring a classic deck of cards and play something simple like Go Fish.

Play a guessing game
You can play any number of guessing games either from an established game like Clue, or improvise a game of 20 questions where you take turns guessing what the other person is thinking of.

Play a magnetic game
Whether it’s just goofing around with toy magnets or putting together a magnetic puzzle, these are great toys for planes because they’re hard to lose when they stick together. If you’re wondering what toys are allowed on planes and whether magnets are ok to fly with, you’re in luck – magnetic toys should have no trouble stowed away in your carry-on luggage.

Play with stickers
Just like magnets, stickers have the advantage as a toy for planes because they stay stuck until you decide to place them elsewhere. We’re fans of sticker books where your kids can arrange and rearrange to their hearts’ desires.

Play with finger puppets
This one might be a little bit of a throwback, but we’ve gotten plenty of laughs and entertainment playing with finger puppets with our kids. Bring your favorite few and put on a little show together.

Do a scavenger hunt
A scavenger hunt on a plane? Well, it’s possible with a little imagination. Create a list of items that your children can easily spot from their seat or from the aisles and have them look for them based on the clues you provide.

Solve a jigsaw puzzle
Where toys and activities for children on planes go, a jigsaw puzzle with many small parts may not sound like an ideal choice. However, there are travel-friendly magnetic options and easy puzzles with large pieces for your younger kids.

Name the animals
To answer the age-old question of how to keep kids busy on a plane, we’re no strangers to fun improvised games. In this game, you simply give clues about the animal and have your kids guess which one you’re thinking of!

Name the countries
If naming animals is a little bit too childish for your children, try naming countries! Give some clues and test your kids’ geography skills.

Name the foods
Finally, there’s naming foods. Kids of all ages will enjoy guessing what food you’re thinking of and the fun facts and clues you give to help them guess correctly.

Doodle
If your kids are natural doodlers or artists, don’t forget to bring some basic art supplies to help them stay occupied.

Color in a coloring book
Can you bring crayons on an airplane? Sure! Whether it’s crayons, pens, or colored pencils, most varieties should be perfectly fine to bring aboard so your kids can pass the time focused on a coloring book.

Etch a sketch
Are toys allowed on flights? It’s a broad question, but most everyday toys should be ok to bring on board. We try to avoid toys that might make a lot of noise, but a classic creative toy like the etch a sketch is no problem at all.

Fold origami animals
We’ve gotten into folding origami animals a little bit and found it to be a perfectly engaging and calming activity on land, and we expect it to be the same in the air!

Hold a stuffed animal
Can kids bring stuffed animals on planes? As long as we’re talking about a conventional cuddly plush animal, and not a giant one the size of a chair, you should be good! Your child’s favorite fluffy friend might be a mandatory carry-on.

Make a digital photo album
If you’re anything like us, you have a lot of unorganized photos on your phone. You might think of organizing some of them into albums while you’re idling on the plane. You can make this a group activity with your kids to make memorable family albums they can also look back on later.

Edit pictures
While you’re making that family album together, you might even think of editing some pictures together using a simple app to make meaningful adjustments or just goof around with effects.

Make a mini documentary
This requires a little bit of planning and creativity, but consider having your older kids make a mini documentary about the journey.

Write postcards
Bring a few postcards onto the flights so your children can take time to write a few thoughts for friends and relatives.

Write a poem together
When you’re both feeling inspired, try putting together simple poems either out loud or on paper.

Tell a story together
Whether it’s taking turns saying one word to build a little story or writing something down for them to read, try a relaxing storytelling activity to pass the time.

Relax with a pillow
Does a pillow count as a personal item? Generally it’s fine to take as an additional item to your carry-on luggage, which should be extra comforting to your little ones who could benefit from the cushiness and support.

Go for a walk
It’s important for your kids to get out of their seats occasionally to visit the bathroom but also to move their bodies a little bit.

Stretch it out
It’s a long flight! Don’t forget to coordinate a little stretch with your kids so they also stay loose.

Count the seats
As an additional activity to accompany your walk, play a simple game and count the seats with your little one while walking up and down the aisles.

Say hello to the flight crew
When it’s a good time, have your young children say hello to the flight crew and be extra courteous.

Take a snack break
Water and snacks are crucial to a smooth flying experience. Time your snack and bathroom breaks well so you avoid any uncomfortable situations.

Change outfits
For extra long flights, it might be a good idea to have a quick change of clothes just to avoid the irritating feeling of clothes that might have gotten stained or sweat through.

Share your travel goals
Take a moment to talk about the flying experience directly and to share some goals you have for the trip.

Thank the flight crew
When it’s all over, have your kids thank the flight crew and say goodbye!

These games, apps, and toys will keep your kids busy on any flight

40 activities for kids on the plane

Check out our epic list of 40 fun, safe, and easy activities that kids can do on the plane.

How much is enough, what the experts recommend, and how it can benefit kids

Screen time is one of the most important topics when it comes to the relationship ...

First, here are some important facts to stimulate our thinking about screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics actually recommends that kids under 18 months avoid all screen time except for video calls. They also recommend that kids older than 2 should only consume 1 hour or less per day of high quality programming. The EU’s Klicksafe initiative provides even stricter screen time rules for kids, advising only 5 minutes for children up to 3 years old, 20 minutes for children 4 to 6, and up to 30-45 minutes for children 7 to 10.

These are important guidelines, but as parents and caregivers, we know that the reality of the day and the need to finally make that chicken nuggets dinner without being interrupted, mean that kids spend more time in front of the screen than we’d like. Accepting reality while finding a better path is what Totoli’s all about and that’s why we’re building a tablet designed for kids to develop a healthier relationship to screen time.

Let’s go over our own recommendations for average screen time for kids by age.

Avoid screen time other than video calls     

Co-viewing of curated content up to one hour per day   

Co-viewing and independent viewing of curated content up to one hour per day, but with more flexibility   

Reasonable limits based on your particular situation   

No strict time limits but with practical rules about content types, and screen time usage based on the context   

Learning and play through apps and games
Age-appropriate apps and games can help young children develop their fine motor skills, improve problem solving and critical thinking, and learn any number of topics like math, spelling, reading, and art in lockstep with their formal education.

Early exposure to technology to build a healthy relationship
The intentional and gradual introduction of screen time in children’s lives helps them mature alongside their devices and build healthy habits during a time of high neuroplasticity. Good habits and disciplined device usage from a young age may have greater benefits than trying to fix bad habits at a later age.

Engaging opportunity between parents and kids
Screen time can be a topic of open dialogue between parents and children as we reflect on the amount of time we spend on our devices, and the kind of content we consume. When screen time is a recurring topic of conversation in your household, it becomes another way to engage with your kids, whether you co-view content, or just talk about it afterwards.

Reliance and addiction potential
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that children ages 8 to 10 spend an average of 6 hours per day in front of a screen and kids ages 11 to 14 spend an average of 9 hours per day in front of a screen. Clearly the addiction potential is there, which is why we recommend healthy limits with an emphasis on intentional screen time that’s for a purpose, and not just for passive viewing.

Lack of physical activity while using devices
Passive viewing of content on devices typically happens in a sedentary position, and those hours add up. Does screen time affect brain development or physical development? Well, the physical strain and lack of activity can lead to obesity, sleep deprivation, and even attention problems. The key is to pick appropriate content with adequate cooling off periods so kids know when it’s enough for the day.

Exposure to the wrong content
When we think about “what is proper screen time for kids,” we’re also thinking about “what is proper content for kids.” Ads, in-app purchases, and automatic recommendations can all lead to unwanted outcomes, so it’s best to curate both the device your kids use and the content they consume.

Make screen time intentional and worth it

Screen time should be a purposeful event in a child’s day, regardless of the content or activity.

Plan what your child views and engages with

Proper planning and preparation of content ensures that each screen engagement is for, or about, something.

Making screen time an event means it’s something you can talk about, reflect on, or even debate about afterwards.

Have warmup and followup activities to screen time

Kids should know what to do before and after their screen time to properly frame it in their lives, and not just treat it as a default state.

Make screen time just one of the many activities your child does

Using a device should feel just like reading, or playing sports, or any other activity your child does in a day, and not like an extra reward for doing something good.

Avoid idly having devices playing on in the background

Even when a screen is playing content in the background, it will invite attention and encourage idle viewing.

You want screen time to be purposeful, and not just an accompaniment to another activity.

Don’t give your kids a device just to keep them occupied

As we mentioned, screen time has to be an active use of time. Of course there are times when you just need your children to stay busy for a few minutes, but this should be the exception, and not the norm.

This is a tricky one, but we know kids often mimic their parents, and this is true of our screen use as well.

The most important takeaway from all this is that a pragmatic and flexible approach to screen time that takes the specific needs of your family into consideration will likely do the most good. We recommend starting an open dialogue with your little ones about devices, technology, and screen time in general to stimulate critical thinking about the issue that makes it easier to adjust your rules over time. At Totoli, we’re always striving to make screen time purposeful and engaging, and helping to make technology a healthy part of our children’s lives. We’ll continue to address this topic in positive ways as our relationship with our devices continues to evolve over time.

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Everything you need to know about screen time for kids

Answer how much screen time is healthy for kids based on expert recommendations and a helpful list of dos and don’ts.