08/25/2026
Screen time can be a challenging topic for families, but it doesn’t have to be all about counting minutes. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ 5 C’s of Media Guidance offers a helpful, age-based approach that looks at the whole picture: Child, Content, Calm, Crowding Out, and Communication.
One thing I especially appreciate about this resource: it includes practical tips for every age—from infants and preschoolers to school-age children, young teens, and older teens. So whether you’re parenting a toddler who loves a tablet or navigating social media with a teenager, there are suggestions tailored to that stage of development.
It’s a great reminder that healthy media habits are about more than limiting screen time—they’re also about what kids are watching, what screens may be replacing, how they use media to cope, and keeping communication open.
Take a look at the article and find the guidance that fits your family’s stage of life.
The "5 Cs" offers easy-to-remember, age-based media guidance tips for parents. It's based on research and what we know supports family relationships, social-emotional development and mental health. Learn how to use this guidance, which is available for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, school-age....
