Quick Takeaways
- Under 2 years: No sedentary screen time, apart from video calls with loved ones.
- Ages 2-5: Keep recreational screen time to under an hour a day.
- Balance is best: Combine digital learning with movement, outdoor play, and connection.
- Purposeful use: At Aussie Kindies, screens are tools for guided group learning, never a replacement for play.
- Small changes matter: Reading together, dancing, and outdoor time all help build healthy screen habits at home.
Keeping Screen Time in Perspective
If you’ve ever turned on a cartoon so you could make dinner, take a phone call, or catch your breath, you’re in good company. For many families, screens are simply part of modern life. What matters most is finding a healthy balance between digital time and real-world play, connection, and rest.
At Aussie Kindies, we take that same balanced approach in our centres. Screens aren’t a babysitter, they’re a tool we use thoughtfully to enhance learning and connection, always led by educators who know when it’s time to switch off and head outdoors.
What the Australian Guidelines Say
The Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines recommend:
- Under 2 years: No sedentary screen time (video calls are fine).
- Ages 2-5: Less than one hour of recreational screen time per day.
- Balance screens with plenty of movement, play, and social interaction.
These guidelines, set by the Department of Health, help families focus on the right mix of activity, rest, and connection each day.
The eSafety Commissioner encourages families to make screen time shared time - talk about what you're watching, link it to everyday play, and keep devices out of bedroom before bed. These simple habits, backed by the Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines, help children balance technology with movement, rest, and connection.
How We Use Technology at Aussie Kindies
In our centres, children learn that technology is something to explore and use creatively, not something that replaces play. Every digital moment is linked to a real-world experience.
Here’s how we make it meaningful:
- Reading Eggs and Mathseeds (included in enrolment) help children build early literacy and numeracy in fun, interactive ways. Educators guide these sessions and connect the lessons to everyday learning.
- The Early Years Toolbox helps our teams track and support each child’s development — from communication and vocabulary to attention and social skills.
- Smart screens are used for group learning, perhaps to look up an animal we discovered in the playground or to discover number or shape patterns, always followed by hands-on play.
By weaving digital tools into the Lifelong Learning Curriculum, children learn that technology can be creative, social, and educational, not just entertainment.
Easy Ways to Find Balance at Home
Here are some tried-and-true tips from our educators and families:
- Swap screens for stories. Reading together builds imagination and language.
- Move together. After dinner, pop on a favourite song and have a dance instead of watching TV.
- Make car rides social. Sing songs, tell stories, or play “I spy.”
- Set up simple play prompts. Crayons, boxes, and puzzles spark creativity while you get things done.
- Head outside daily. Even 15 minutes of outdoor play can reset everyone’s mood after screen time.
The eSafety Commissioner also suggests keeping devices out of bedrooms and turning them off an hour before bedtime - an easy way to help kids sleep and recharge.
Supporting Families, Every Step of the Way
At Aussie Kindies, we know parenting is busy, and that balance looks different in every household. Our educators are always here to share ideas, resources, and encouragement to help you find what works for your family.
We also stay up to date with advice from ACECQA, the Department of Health, and the eSafety Commissioner so we can give you the latest, most reliable guidance.
Growing Healthy Digital Habits Together
Technology will always be part of our children’s world, but the way they learn to use it starts now. At Aussie Kindies, we’re proud to help children grow curious, confident, and capable, both on-screen and off.
Want to see how we use tools like Mathseeds, Reading Eggs, and the Early Years Toolbox in your child’s centre? Book a tour or chat with your local Aussie Kindies Early Learning educators today.
Together, we’ll raise a generation of creative, balanced learners ready for anything.