MOH Screen Time Guidelines
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are pleased to announce that the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Education (MOE), and Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) have jointly launched Grow Well SG, a national health promotion strategy aimed at enhancing preventive care and fostering healthier lifestyles among children and adolescents. This multi-ministry initiative addresses the holistic health and well-being of our youth in the digital age.
Screen Use Guidelines for Children Aged 0-12 Years
As part of the Grow Well SG initiative, MOH has developed guidelines for screen use among children aged 0 to 12 years. These guidelines are based on extensive research conducted by MOH, which you can access by downloading the full report here.
Understanding Screen Use: Benefits and Risks
While screens and digital devices can offer educational benefits, they also pose potential risks to children's health and development. To mitigate these risks, we strongly encourage families to adopt healthy screen use habits as outlined in the guidelines:
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Limit Screen Time: Restrict screen use to 2 hours per day, excluding time spent on school-related homework.
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Develop a Screen Use Plan: Collaborate with your child to create a structured plan for screen time that includes agreed-upon limits and activities.
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Control Internet Access: Avoid providing unlimited and unrestricted access to the internet.
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Social Media Restrictions: Children under 13 years old should not have access to social media platforms.
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Set Up Parental Controls: Implement parental controls on your child’s devices to monitor and manage their online activities.
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Screen-Free Zones: Establish rules for no screen time during meals and for 1 hour before bedtime to promote healthier habits.
Parental Control Resources
If your child has access to or owns a device, please ensure that parental controls are set up. Below are links to resources that can assist you in configuring parental controls on various operating systems:
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Android: Family Link by Google (free)
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Windows: Family Safety (free)
Research Insights
We also encourage you to view the video research conducted by SUSS, which explores the impact of excessive screen time on cognitive development among Singaporean adolescents. This research highlights how screen time can affect learning and future work life. You can find the video titled “No Phone, No Life?” on MeWatch or access it here.
Partnership for Healthier Screen Use
We look forward to your partnership in managing screen time effectively for our students at home. Together, we can foster a healthier digital environment and mental wellbeing for our children.
Thank you for your cooperation.