How much screen time is normal at twelve?
There is no magic number. There is a better question to ask instead.
There is no magic number, and pediatricians have largely stopped giving one for this age. An hour building worlds with a friend is not the same as an hour of scrolling alone.
The better question: what is screen time pushing out? If sleep, schoolwork, sports and friends are all in good shape, the number on the clock matters less than you fear. If one of them is slipping, that is where to look first.
A quick check
- Sleep: enough of it, and the phone is not the last thing they see.
- School: homework gets done without a nightly battle.
- Body: they move most days.
- People: they still see friends in person.
Smartie’s tip
Set the weekly amount together with your twelve-year-old. At this age, a number they negotiated beats a number they were given.
Written with Smartie, the KidsProxy assistant, and checked by a human before it went online.
A budget your kid can see.
With vouchers, online time is agreed in advance and visible to everyone.
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