The current standards do not provide any restrictions on the use of visual media in childcare. It is a good thing that the new proposed standards include some restrictions! However, they state that children 16 months of age could use up to two hours per day of visual media, and for children aged two or older, only “non-educational” content is limited to two hours per day, meaning they could be sitting in front of a screen all day long if the content was considered “educational”. I encourage you to further restrict the use of visual media in childcare settings. 

The AAP just released updated guidance on visual media use for children, which can be found here. 

Our school proposes the following language:

If the center uses media such as television, videos, video games, software, and computers, the following shall apply

1. 1. For infants, the use of visual media is prohibited.
   2. Written parental permission for media use shall be secured before the scheduled activity.
   3. If a blanket permission is used instead of a separate written permission it must detail the times and types of media that will be permitted.
   4. All media shall be limited to age-appropriate programs.
   5. Parental permission is not required for school-age children who attend programming that incorporates technology into curriculum learning activities if disclosed in their parental materials.