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Screen Time Guidelines for Primary School Children in Australia
How much screen time is right for primary school children? Australia's guidelines for ages 5 to 17, what research says, and practical tips for families.
Read the guideKey points
Australian guidelines recommend no more than two hours of sedentary recreational screen time a day for children aged 5 to 17. Schoolwork is not included [1].
The same guidelines recommend at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day, and 9 to 11 hours of sleep for 5 to 13 year olds [1].
Research summarised by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) found only 15 per cent of 5 to 12 year olds met the screen time guideline [2].
What children do on screens, and when, matters as well as how long.
What are the Australian screen time guidelines for children?
The Australian Government Department of Health publishes physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines for children and young people aged 5 to 17. They cover a full day: movement, sitting, screen use and sleep [1].
For screens, the recommendation is clear: "no more than 2 hours of sedentary recreational screen time per day". The guidelines add, "This does not include screen time needed for school work" [1].
The full set of recommendations for this age group is [1]:
Area — Recommendation
Physical activity — At least 60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous activity
Vigorous and strengthening activity — On at least 3 days a week
Sitting — Break up long periods of sitting as often as possible
Recreational screen time — No more than 2 hours a day
Sleep (5 to 13 years) — 9 to 11 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night
Sleep (14 to 17 years) — 8 to 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night
The guidelines also recommend avoiding screen time in the hour before sleep and keeping screens out of the bedroom [1].
What about younger children?:
For children aged 2 to 5, the guideline is no more than one hour a day, and less is better. For children under 2, no sedentary screen time is recommended [2][3]. This is useful to know if you also have younger children.
What counts as recreational screen time?
Recreational screen time is screen use for entertainment. It includes watching television and videos, playing video games and using apps or social media for fun.
Screen use required for schoolwork is not counted in the two-hour limit [1][3]. This distinction matters, but it is not a free pass. The guidelines still ask families to break up long periods of sitting, whatever the reason for it [1].
How many Australian children meet the guideline?
Most do not. An AIFS resource published in 2021 reported that only 15 per cent of 5 to 12 year olds met the screen time guideline [2].
Earlier figures point the same way. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that about 90 per cent of Australian children used screens each week, and most spent 10 or more hours a week on screen-based activities, based on 2017–18 data [4].
What does research say about screen time and children?
The AIFS summary found that, for children aged 5 to 17, screen time may have negative effects on weight and diet, as well as behavioural problems, anxiety, hyperactivity, attention, self-esteem and psychosocial health [2]. The evidence of harm is strongest for children under 5 [2].
The research also shows that parents' habits matter. AIFS noted a strong link between parents' own screen use and their children's screen use [2]. It recommended that families set time and content rules and, where possible, use screens together [2].
Screens are also part of learning. In the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025, Australian 15-year-olds scored well above the OECD average in a new area called Learning in the Digital World [5]. The goal for most families is balance rather than avoidance.
Is screen time at school changing?
Yes, in some states. From 2027, NSW public schools will cap daily screen learning at up to 15 minutes for Kindergarten to Year 2, 30 minutes for Years 3–4 and 45 minutes for Years 5–6, becoming mandatory in 2028 [6]. Victorian government primary schools will limit device use to 90 minutes a day for Years 3–6 from 2027 [7]. Read more in our article on school screen time limits in 2027 (noooli.com/learn/school-screen-time-limits-2027-nsw-victoria).
How can parents manage screen time at home?
The Raising Children Network, an Australian parenting resource, suggests an approach built on balance and family routines [8]. The following steps draw on that advice and the national guidelines.
Make a family media plan:
Agree together on where, when and how devices are used. Rules work better when they apply to the whole family, including adults [8].
Protect sleep:
Avoid screens in the hour before bed and keep devices out of bedrooms at night [1][8]. Charging devices in a shared space can make this easier.
Choose quality content:
Help your child pick good apps, games, shows and videos [8]. Ask whether an activity helps your child learn, create or connect, or whether it simply fills time.
Balance screens with other activities:
Screen time should sit alongside physical play, outdoor play, creative play, reading and time with friends and family [8]. Aim for the 60 minutes of daily physical activity first [1].
Use screens together:
Watching or playing with your child lets you talk about what they see and notice any problems early [2].
Model the habits you want:
Children copy what adults do. Putting your own phone away at meals and in conversations sends a clear message [2][8].
Keep learning time short and focused:
When screens are used for learning, short focused sessions are easier to fit into a balanced day. Mixing in paper-based activities, such as free printable maths worksheets (noooli.com/worksheets/maths), adds variety. You can check what the curriculum expects each year (noooli.com/learn/is-my-child-on-track) to choose the right level.
How Noooli can help
Noooli offers short daily maths practice, about 10 minutes, for children from Kindergarten to Year 6, aligned to the Australian Curriculum. The brief format is designed to fit a balanced day. Parents can see their child's progress, and free printable worksheets (noooli.com/worksheets/maths) with answer keys offer a screen-free option.
References
1. Australian Government Department of Health, "Physical activity and exercise guidelines for children and young people (5 to 17 years)". https://www.health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity-and-exercise/physical-activity-and-exercise-guidelines-for-all-australians/for-children-and-young-people-5-to-17-years
2. Joshi, A. and Hinkley, T., "Too much time on screens? Screen time effects and guidelines for children and young people", Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2021. https://aifs.gov.au/resources/short-articles/too-much-time-screens
3. Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, "Recommended screen time for Australian children". https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/kids-health-hub/screen-time/recommended-screen-time-australian-children
4. Australian Bureau of Statistics, "Kids clock up 10 or more hours of screen time per week", 2019. https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/kids-clock-10-or-more-hours-screen-time-week
5. Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), "PISA 2025: Australian students outperform OECD average in world's largest learning assessment", 2026. https://www.acer.org/au/news/article/pisa-2025-australian-students-outperform-oecd-average-in-worlds-largest-learning-assessment
6. NSW Department of Education, "Screentime limits in public schools to lift our game in the classroom", 13 September 2026. https://education.nsw.gov.au/news/latest-news/screentime-limits-in-public-schools-to-lift-our-game-in-the-clas
7. Premier of Victoria, "Parents To Save Money On Students' Digital Devices", 16 October 2025. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/parents-save-money-students-digital-devices
8. Raising Children Network, "School-age screen time: tips for balance", 2024. https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/media-technology/screen-time-healthy-screen-use/healthy-screen-time-6-11-years
Common questions
How much screen time is recommended for primary school children in Australia?
Australian guidelines recommend no more than two hours a day of sedentary recreational screen time for children and young people aged 5 to 17. This does not include screen time needed for schoolwork. They also recommend at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily and 9 to 11 hours of sleep for 5 to 13 year olds.
Does homework on a device count towards the two-hour limit?
No. The two-hour recommendation covers recreational screen time, such as games, videos and social media. Screen time needed for schoolwork is not included. However, the guidelines still advise breaking up long periods of sitting, so it helps to build in movement breaks during longer homework sessions.
Should children use screens before bed?
Australian health guidance recommends avoiding screen time in the hour before sleep and keeping screens out of the bedroom. Screen use close to bedtime can affect sleep, and primary school children aged 5 to 13 need 9 to 11 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.
