toddler development
screen time for 1-year-olds vs 3-year-olds
what works for a 3-year-old might overwhelm a 1-year-old. here's how to adjust screen time as they grow.
1-year-olds (12-24 months)
developmental stage
- attention span: 2-3 minutes
- learning through physical interaction
- visual system still developing
- can't understand screen content yet
screen time approach
- minimal screen time (if any)
- audio-only is better than video
- if screens happen: very short, very calm
- co-viewing (watch together, talk about it)
2-year-olds (24-36 months)
developmental stage
- attention span: 4-6 minutes
- starting to understand simple stories
- learning language rapidly
- can follow simple instructions
screen time approach
- short sessions (5-10 minutes)
- calm, simple content
- music + simple visuals work well
- consistent routines
3-year-olds (36-48 months)
developmental stage
- attention span: 6-8 minutes
- understands simple narratives
- can learn from screen content
- developing imagination
screen time approach
- can handle slightly longer sessions (10-15 min)
- simple stories + songs
- still benefits from calm pacing
- can start learning from content
content that grows with them
our content is designed to work across these ages—calm enough for 1-year-olds, engaging enough for 3-year-olds.