2023 "children and screens" campaign: screens not recommended for children under the age of 3

Keep your child away from screens (TV, tablets and smartphones). Interaction with the world around them is essential to their development (language, motor skills, etc.).

According to Arcom, the French Ministry of Health and a number of experts, television is not suitable for children under 3 years of age, as it can hinder their development, even when channels are specifically aimed at them.

Before the age of 3, , children build themselves by acting on the world: television risks locking them into a passive spectator status at a time when they need to learn to become actors in the world around them.

There are several stages in the development of children under three:

• At first, babies are attracted by everything that moves,
• then they discover that they can act on their environment
• as soon as their motor skills permit, they can point to things and touch them
• as of nine months, he imitates without understanding what he sees.
• Around the age of one and a half or two, he puts words to things and understands basic expressions.

Television is often thought to have a calming effect on toddlers. However, the baby's gaze is caught by the stream of images and sounds coming from the screen that he or she doesn't understand, which can give the illusion of a calming effect. However, this calm is often followed by misunderstood agitation, leading parents to increase their exposure to television, which in turn risks accentuating its harmful effect on the child.

Choose suitable programs for a limited time. Excessive screen consumption can lead to sleep, vision and concentration problems.

As of age 3, adapted programs can stimulate certain abilities, such as statement of case or alphabet recognition. But beware of duration: 10 minutes spent in front of the TV represents a high concentration time for a youngster.

It's advisable to keep sessions short, with the possibility of watching the same program several times to understand the action and intentions of the characters... and thus avoid "zapping" between several programs!

Between the ages of 3 and 6, children react with their own sensitivity. You need to be particularly vigilant about what they watch, as they don't have any drop of perspective. They won't be able to tell the difference between drama and reality, and will regard the frightening images they see as real, without having the words to express their feelings. That's why it's so important to talk to your child.

Help your child discover screens.

As of the age of 6, children are able to distinguish between what is real and what is not. They begin to have some experience of images, and can analyze and comment on them. They may also want to imitate what they've seen, which is why it's important to explain to them that they shouldn't reproduce what they see on TV, and to respect their sensibilities by favoring programmes for younger viewers.

Up to the age of 8, give preference to programmes for younger viewers. It's important to limit the length of your child's viewing sessions, and to work with him or her to choose the programs he or she will watch, so that they can learn to find their way around a program supply.

In general, try to be by your child's side as he watches TV.

Between the ages of 10 and 12, children begin to want more autonomous access to images and to diversify the programs they watch.

In adolescence, they may want to confront certain violent content, even if they are not emotionally capable of doing so. Even at this age, and despite the ease with which teenagers can access images, it's important to maintain a dialogue with them about what they watch or listen to, and to continue teaching them to choose what suits their tastes and sensibilities.

Whatever your child's age

• for better attention at school, avoid screens in the morning
• for more convivial meals, opt for screen-free meals
• for restful sleep, avoid screens before bedtime and in the bedroom