Recommendations for Recreational Technology Use

• Keep recreational technology use to less than an hour a day.
• Turn off screens 60 minutes before bedtime. At night, make your child’s bedroom a “tech-free” zone.
• Focus on developing healthy, consistent screen time limits and making time for other routines, such as physical activities and sleep.
• No social media and avoid unsupervised use of AI (including virtual assistants and companions).
• Monitor and approve your child’s recreational technology use, prioritizing high-quality content.
• Own all of your child’s accounts and check them regularly.

The Early Years: Starting Young with Healthy Tech Habits

Kids between five and eight years old are becoming quite adept at using tablets and smartphones, a trend further fueled by the introduction of various educational applications in classrooms (Daugherty et al., 2014; David & Weinstein, 2023). This early exposure to and increasing competence with technology may naturally lead to a desire for independent tech use at home. If your child does have access to a tablet at home, consider having a family or combined tablet, rather than a personal tablet. Spending time together navigating digital media promotes connection and provides you with an opportunity to see the content your child is consuming and establish boundaries online (Munzer et al., 2026).

It's crucial to note that the initial years of elementary school are pivotal for children's development. Hosokawa and Katsura (2018) highlight that this period is critical for developing prosocial skills, essential for their social and emotional well-being; however, excessive technology use during these formative years can impede this development. Research indicates that frequent computer use can lead to social isolation and reduce the time spent on meaningful interactions with family and peers, potentially hampering verbal and language development. Furthermore, Aggeler (2024) points out that children in this age group are in a crucial phase of developing executive functioning skills, vital for regulating emotions and behaviours. 

Considering this, parents need to find balance when managing screen time. This balance should respect and foster children’s natural curiosity and motivation for digital exploration while also setting healthy boundaries (Joussemet et al., 2008). This way, children can benefit from the positive aspects of technology without hindering their overall development.

Five Top Tips to Support Healthy Recreational Technology Use for Children Ages 5–8

1. Set digital rules for your child and be kind but consistent. Help them understand the benefits of adhering to these boundaries by highlighting how nice it is to spend time together without distractions.
2. Set a good example with your screen use. Children tend to model your behaviour. Show them that you are intentionally taking regular breaks from technology. Use something like the Family Media Plan to regularly check in.
3. Manage their time and access to media. Use Apple IOS parental controls, Family Link on Android, or external options like Qustodio and Kaspersky Safe Kids to manage access to digital content.
4. Stay engaged in their technology use. Supervise technology use, screening your child’s content to choose high-quality options (See Figure 1 and 2). Aim for a balanced approach to screen time that allows for creativity, connecting with family and friends, and relaxation activities such as mindfulness, meditation and yoga for kids. 
5. Discuss online risks and strategies to tackle them. Kids this age can’t navigate the internet safely and can’t tell the difference between real and fake content. Follow age-appropriate online safety tips, like the ones from Media Smarts.

Recommendations for Recreational Technology Use

• Recreational screen time should be less than two hours per weekday.
• Focus on maintaining healthy, consistent screen time limits and making time for other routines, such as physical activities and sleep. 
• Turn off screens 60 minutes before bedtime. At night, make your child’s bedroom a “tech-free” zone.
• No social media and avoid unsupervised use of AI (including virtual assistants and companions).
• Children this age should not have their own cell phone; or if they do it should not be “smart.”
• Prioritize high-quality, parent-approved online content.
• Own all of your child’s accounts and check them regularly.

Exploring New Interests, Developing Good Habits: Technology for Older Children

At this age, children’s brains and bodies undergo significant growth spurts, and they are often very curious and eager to participate in many activities. This is a pivotal time to get them engaged in physical activities such as sports, and use technology selectively to help them explore their many interests. While still maintaining clear and consistent rules and expectations around technology use, work together with your child to pick out activities where they can use technology. Co-develop criteria together for what would be considered positive use of technology. 

For example, Kawas et al. (2021) investigated an app that engages kids through outdoor nature exploration, developing autonomy and independence by negotiating geographic boundaries. Moreover, Daughterty and team (2014) suggest that cooperative and dynamic games, such as exercise-based applications, can offer opportunities for social engagement, identity and cognitive development. Accordingly, when parents encourage their children to engage in active rather than sedentary use of technology, their concerns for development and well-being become mitigated and they can focus on supporting motivation for digital exploration.

It is worth noting that technology use and independence can be introduced without your child owning a smartphone or using social media. Research suggests that getting a smartphone at a younger age is linked to higher risks of insufficient sleep and weight-related concerns, highlighting the value of delaying smartphone access (Barzilay et al., 2025). That being said, there may be no ideal time to give your child a smartphone. Smartphone readiness may be dependent on factors such as digital media literacy, truthfulness with caregivers, ability to navigate conflict in social situations, and practical needs (Munzer et al., 2026). Check out this phone-ready quiz for caregivers from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AT&T Screen Ready, 2021) or this video from Common Sense Media (2023) to explore whether your child is smartphone-ready.

Additionally, at this age kids begin to develop their social selves, which makes this a ripe time for social comparison, exclusion and bullying. As parents help their children learn how to navigate social relationships, this is often easier to do in real-life settings than online spaces like social media and group chats. Because group norms are important at this age, using social media may be a routine point of tension between you and your child. It may help to connect with other parents in your child’s class to make sure as few kids in their social group as possible are on social media, so fewer children feel left out or pressured to participate.

Five Top Tips to Support Healthy Recreational Technology Use for Older Children

1. Set digital rules together. Involve your child in setting rules that focus on prioritizing sleep, homework, chores and family/friends time. Use something like the Family Media Plan to regularly check in. Set consistent consequences and take away devices if rules are not followed. Show them that you are intentionally taking regular breaks from technology.
2. Manage their time and access to media. Use Apple IOS parental controls, Family Link on Android, or external options like Qustodio and Kaspersky Safe Kids to manage access to digital content.
3. Take an active role in their digital life. Incorporate screens into family time with movie or game nights to engage your child’s interests, as well as screen-free and active activities you can enjoy together. Monitor what they do online and discuss regularly.
4. Discuss online risks and strategies to tackle them. Kids this age still lack the critical thinking skills to be online alone. Follow age-appropriate online safety tips, like the ones from Media Smarts.
5. Encourage them to be selective and critical about what they do online. Steer your child away from social media and GenAI and discuss the negative effects on mental health. Promote exploration of platforms and apps that are active, creative and foster critical thinking skills. Help them identify high-quality versus low-quality online content.

Recommendations for Recreational Technology Use

• Recreational screen time should be less than two hours per weekday.
• Focus on maintaining healthy, consistent screen time limits and making time for other routines, such as physical activities and sleep. 
• Encourage them to turn off screens 60 minutes before bedtime. At night, make your child’s bedroom a “tech-free” zone.
• No social media, but if allowed, monitor by reviewing together regularly, discussing and coaching for healthy use.
• Avoid unsupervised use of AI including companions and virtual assistants. 
• Resist the pressure to give them their own cell phone as long as possible; or if they have a phone, it should not be “smart.”
• Have access to all of your child’s accounts and negotiate privacy vs safety.

The Big Transition: Getting Ready for Adolescent Technology Use

This stage of development is characterized by significant physical changes and the onset of puberty (though for many, this can start as early as nine years old), making pre-teens particularly vulnerable to the impact of digital media. As thinking skills advance, there's a notable discrepancy between their cognitive abilities and their experience and judgment, leading to an increased likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors. Furthermore, this period marks a strong drive toward independence from parents, with pre-teens beginning to challenge, ignore, criticize, or reject parental rules.

For pre-teens, technology is often a symbolic move toward independence and a way to explore their identity online (Kawas et al., 2021). However, pre-teens are particularly vulnerable to images in the media, marketing strategies and exposure to inappropriate content, including pornographic material. Most recent statistics suggest that non-school media use for tweens jumped 17% post-pandemic, averaging over 5.5 hours daily (Common Sense Media, 2022). Furthermore, 72% of teens now use AI chatbots, with one-third using them for social interaction or "relationships" (Common Sense Media, 2025a). Studies also show that acquiring a smartphone around ages 12–13 is associated with increased risks of sleep problems and mental health challenges (Barzilay et al., 2025). These tools can target fluctuating self-esteem and heighten vulnerability to peer pressure. It is crucial for parents to monitor their child's online activity closely and initiate non-judgmental conversations without stifling their growing need for autonomy.

It is worth noting that technological independence can be supported without your child owning a smartphone or using social media. Smartphone readiness may be dependent on factors such as digital media literacy, truthfulness with caregivers, ability to navigate conflict in social situations, and practical needs (Munzer et al., 2026). Check out this phone-ready quiz for caregivers from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AT&T ScreenReady, 2021) or this video from Common Sense Media (2023) to explore whether your child is smartphone-ready.

Despite the challenges, technology use isn't without its benefits. Beyond keeping in touch with friends and family, technology supports creativity and learning by giving children a platform to explore and share their interests. To help your kids find balance, parents can use autonomy-oriented techniques (e.g., reasoning rather than using rewards and punishments) to arrive at mutually agreed-upon limits. Cultivating a sense of self-determination in pre-teens is key to helping them manage their screen time with increasing independence and internalize healthy values and habits around technology balance. When pre-teens are actively involved in setting guidelines and expectations for device use, they are more likely to take responsibility, leading to a more balanced and self-directed approach to managing recreational screen time. 

As pre-teens navigate the complexities of their developmental stage, parents must welcome their separation with understanding and encouragement toward good decision-making, knowing that sometimes mistakes will be made. Being open and available for your pre-teen to come to you when they need guidance is crucial. This is not the time to step back completely; kids still need supervision and guidance as they develop the skills necessary to navigate the digital world responsibly. Persistently and consistently talking to your teen about technology and their life online will support them in this critical period of growth and discovery.

Five Top Tips to Support Healthy Recreational Technology Use for Pre-Teens Ages 12–13

1. Set boundaries to help them build good online habits. Establish a family agreement to outline online expectations using something like the Family Media Plan, and regularly check in. Emphasize priorities such as sleep, relationships and family time. 
2. Teach them about screen time management techniques and tools. Parents can help guide their pre-teens on how to create systems for themselves to manage screen time. They can begin to regulate their recreational technology time using features like screen limits, downtime, impulse blockers, etc. If they are already on social media it is especially important to discuss how those platforms are designed to be addictive and help them create pathways for breaking those compulsive habits.
3. Stay engaged in what they do online. Allow independence while fostering resilience through wise technology choices. Regular check-ins create an open space for children to address any concerns. Talk about what healthy relationships online look like, how to have a positive online presence, as well as bullying and racism online.
4. Equip them with the know-how. Kids this age still lack the experience and judgment to be online alone. Regularly discuss handling risks like inappropriate content and cyberbullying. Ensure they know when and where to seek help. Follow age-appropriate online safety tips, like the ones from Media Smarts.
5. Encourage them to be selective and critical about what they do online. Steer your pre-teen away from social media and GenAI and discuss the negative effects on mental health. Promote exploration of platforms and apps that are active, creative and foster critical thinking skills. Help them identify high-quality versus low-quality online content.

Recommendations for Recreational Technology Use

• Recreational screen time should be two hours or less per day. 
• Focus on maintaining healthy, consistent screen time limits and making time for other routines, such as physical activities and sleep. 
• Encourage them to turn off screens 60 minutes before bedtime. At night, make your teen’s bedroom a “tech-free” zone.
• Regularly, discuss and coach them on healthy use of social media. Take the time to learn what platforms they use and how they work.
• Avoid unsupervised use of AI including companions.
• Have access to passwords for all of your teen’s accounts and negotiate parameters of when you should be able to check up on them. Renegotiate as they get older and more independent.

The Technology-Enhanced Teen: Moving Forward with Healthy Habits

Technology plays a central role in teens’ daily routines outside of school-related matters, such as staying connected with friends, getting up to date on the news, or creating personalized content. Social media is a rich area of focus, as it invites teens, who are at critical developmental stages of unsettled self-definition and developing autonomy, to make unrealistic comparisons between themselves and others, affecting their physical, psychological and mental well-being (Aggeler, 2024). 

Most teens spend more than the recommended two hours or less per day using technology. Rather than focusing on drastic reductions in screentime, research suggests it is more useful to focus on how screens are being used rather than fussing over minutes or hours (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2025; Canadian Pediatric Society, 2025). Parents can develop rules focusing on balance, content, co-viewing and communication, which are associated with better well-being outcomes than rules focused on screen time (Moreno et al., 2022). 

Alongside social media, many teens are also experimenting with AI companions as part of their digital lives. Research from Common Sense Media (2025a). shows that 72% of teens have used generative AI, with about one-third using it for social interaction or relationship-like conversations. For most teens AI companions are not replacing real-friendships, but for some they are becoming more satisfying than human interaction (Emotional AI Lab, 2026). While these tools can feel supportive or entertaining, relying on them for connection can blur boundaries, shape unrealistic expectations about relationships, and reduce opportunities to practice real-world interpersonal skills especially during this period of identity formation, romantic exploration and growing independence. These platforms have limited and inconsistent safety regulations with engagement-optimized algorithms that prioritize prolonged interaction over user well-being. Preliminary research suggests that AI companions (Chat GPT, Character.ai, Gemini, Grok, Meta AI, etc.) in their current state are not safe for unsupervised use by teenagers (Common Sense Media, 2025b).

As teens navigate these years, figuring out "what they want to do with their lives" becomes a prominent question. Their evolving sense of self and autonomy makes self-regulation particularly challenging, making them more prone to engaging in risky behaviors and testing boundaries. According to Blum-Ross and Livingstone (2016), parents and caregivers should adopt a facilitating role, equipping teens with the necessary tools to self-regulate and take ownership of their technology time while remaining critical of its impact on their well-being. This approach acknowledges that teens are like inexperienced adults, exploring their potential selves and finding community in both the physical and digital worlds. Allow them to experience the natural consequences of their actions to support their learning process, and create age-appropriate consequences where warranted. Throughout this learning process, open and non-judgmental communication is essential; creating a safe space where teens feel comfortable sharing their digital experiences allows parents to better understand their world, guide reflection and offer support.

To assist teens in developing the skills needed to regulate their technology use, Opdenakker (2022) emphasizes the importance of practicing "need-supportive" behaviors rather than "thwarting behaviors" to contribute positively to self-regulation. Teens have expressed the need for more support in several areas:

• More information around data, such as insights into screen time and app use provided by Digital Wellbeing tools on Android devices, to foster awareness and informed decisions.
• Designs that support usage flexibility, allowing teens to customize limits based on the time of year or day of the week to accommodate their changing schedules and responsibilities.
• Active alerts that interrupt usage with warning notices and pop-up messages, providing immediate feedback on their behaviour and encouraging self-reflection.

Incorporating these themes into the guidance by parents and caregivers can help teens navigate the complex interplay between technology, self-discovery, and autonomy, ensuring they develop the critical skills needed for healthy self-regulation and well-being in the digital age. This period of exploration, marked by trying on potential selves and finding a sense of community, underscores the need for a supportive and understanding approach that treats teens with respect and acknowledges their growing independence while continuing to support setting strong boundaries.

Five Top Tips to Support Healthy Recreational Technology Use for Teens

1. Set boundaries together to help them build good online habits. Establish a family agreement to outline online expectations using something like the Family Media Plan, and regularly check in. Emphasize priorities such as sleep, relationships and family time. 
2. Help them prioritize key tasks over screens. Teens may be tempted to multitask with screens, leading to distractions. Assist them in establishing rules, such as using “Do Not Disturb” mode on their phones to complete homework or other responsibilities.
3. Stay engaged in what they do online. Try to understand your teen’s online communication habits as they become more socially active. Facilitate open communication to get involved in their online passions, gain respect and proactively guide their technology use. Have ongoing conversations about healthy online relationships, positive digital presence, and recognizing bullying or racism.
4. Equip them with the know-how. Discuss sharing personal information, data privacy, sexting, cyberbullying and harassment, and encourage ethical behaviour online. Let your teen know that if something goes wrong that they can talk to you. Follow age-appropriate online safety tips, like the ones from Media Smarts.
5. Encourage them to be selective and critical about what they do online. Help them set parameters with social media and GenAI by reviewing available tools together and encouraging the use of built-in platform settings for alerts and summaries to promote digital well-being. Remind teens that digital platforms, including chatbots, use algorithms to secure user engagement. Encourage them to think critically about media and platforms they choose to avoid mindless scrolling.