The Canadian Paediatric Society has released its first stand-alone recommendations for how much time children aged five and under should spend in front of a screen.

The society is standing by its past statement that kids younger than two years old should completely avoid screen time.

For years, the C-P-S has buried its recommendations about digital screen time management in its healthy active living outline.

But a recent survey of its members found that parents are increasingly asking family doctors and pediatricians for advice on shifts in the digital culture.

Dr. Michelle Ponti suggests parents start making a family media plan even before their child is born, outlining when, where and how screens may be used.

Research suggests it’s easier to set limits early rather than scale back on viewing time later on.

The society recommends toddlers aged two to five should watch no more than an hour of screen time per day — and turn off screens at least an hour before bedtime.

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Filed under: Local News, New report