Time online

Help your child achieve a healthy balance in their online and offline activities. The goal isn’t a perfect number of minutes—it’s balance, quality and involvement.

How much is too much?

There’s no single magic figure. The right amount of screen time depends on your child’s age and maturity, what they’re doing online, their learning needs and your family routine. Focus less on the clock and more on the quality and balance of activities—and your involvement.

Signs to watch for

• Less interest in real-life activities (e.g. meeting friends, sport).
• Not doing so well at school.
• Tiredness, sleep disturbance, headaches or eye strain.
• Changes in eating patterns.
• Reduced personal hygiene.
• Fixation with particular websites, games or apps.
• Anger when asked to take a break from online activity.
• Anxious or irritable when away from the computer/device.
• Withdrawing from friends and family.

Help your child manage their online time

• Stay engaged and encourage balance — keep an eye on the games, apps and devices your child uses by sharing screen time with them. Help them plan around important offline activities like hobbies and sport.
• Create a plan — involve your child in a simple family plan that balances online time with offline activities.
• Use available technologies — parental controls and timers can help measure and set time limits. Be open with your child about why you use them.

This material has been adapted with permission from the Australian Government eSafety Commissioner . Permission to adapt content does not constitute endorsement of material by the eSafety Commissioner.