Over Half of Kids Aged 2 to 6 Exceed Recommended Daily Screen Time: Poll

Survey Aims to Understand How Parents Are Managing Children's Digital Activities: MDDI

- Sarah Koh

More than half of children aged between two and six here spend more than an hour daily on digital devices, exceeding the recommended one-hour limit on screen time set by the Ministry of Health.

This figure balloons to 81 percent on weekends, according to the findings of an inaugural Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) survey released on Sept 12.

The Digital Parenting Survey, conducted in February, involved 1,986 parents in Singapore with children aged between two and 17.

Parents were asked how much time their children spent daily on digital devices—including smartphones, tablets, computers, and television—for leisure, and about their concerns and what sort of help they need.

The study aims to understand how parents are managing the digital activities of their children, said MDDI, adding that the results will help the Government better support parents in this endeavor.

For children aged between seven and nine, 27 percent spend more than the recommended two hours on devices on weekdays.

This figure doubles to 55 percent on weekends.

Nearly half of those aged between 10 and 12 spend more than the recommended two hours on devices on weekdays, and the number goes up to 71 percent on weekends.

The Ministry of Health provided the stricter screen use guidelines in January as part of a national health strategy to encourage children and adolescents to adopt healthier lifestyles.