Internet safety
Get insights on how screen use impacts young children and how you can use screens to benefit young children's development in your early years settings.
What young children are doing online
Children in the early years are using digital devices more. According to the 2024 Ofcom report 85% of children aged 3 to 4 are using apps like YouTube.
Research shows that children are watching video-on-demand content on video-sharing platforms rather than television, such as cartoons, mini movies and songs. However, unlike older children, only a small number of children aged 3 to 4 (23%) play games online.
How device use can affect development
Screen use can benefit children’s development in the early years but there are challenges that you should be aware of. Ongoing research suggests there are both positive and negative developmental outcomes.
Benefits
Screen use (depending upon how it is used) can support young children in your care by:
- providing opportunities to promote creativity and learning
- encouraging language development
- improving numeracy and literacy skills
- creating a greater understanding of their world
- developing their digital skills
Challenges
Screen use in the early years can have an impact on a young child’s development. It can:
- impact their ability to control their emotions
- impact how they deal with social interactions and activities
- expose them to inappropriate content
Screen time advice
The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) guidance from 2019 on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age states that to grow up healthy, children need to sit less and play more.
WHO has the following recommendations for screen time:
- under 1: screen time is not recommended
- 1-year-olds: sedentary screen time (such as watching TV or videos, playing computer games) is not recommended
- 2-year-olds: sedentary screen time should be no more than 1 hour; less is better
- age 3 to 4: sedentary screen time should be no more than 1 hour; less is better
Using devices in your setting
If you decide to use electronic devices in your setting, they should be used as a tool to support children’s learning and development. Sedentary screen time should be avoided.
You should always closely supervise children when using electronic devices.
These websites and apps have educational content appropriate for early years children:
- CBeebies Little Learners app: Free games and video activities
- Teach Your Monster: Free games to teach children reading, number skills and adventurous eating
- Cosmic Kids Yoga: Free yoga videos for children, turning screen time into physical activity
Access technology safely
You can support children’s use of technology in your setting by:
- informing parents and carers and early year’s staff members on how you support children’s use of technology in your setting (you could combine this with safeguarding policies)
- using device safety settings to ensure apps and content are age-appropriate
- monitoring and supporting children while they use devices
- thinking about what you post online and how this may impact your role or children in your care (For example, you do not share details about children, parents or other practitioners and you should adhere to any social media policies which cover staff personal use of social media platforms)
- getting parental consent before creating or sharing images of children and store them safely
Teach and share internet safety guidelines
Talk to parents and carers, and young children in your care about internet safety. You can:
- help young children understand what safe use of technology looks like
- have conversations and share advice with parents and carers to encourage safe online use in the home
- stay up to date with issues that young children face online through online safety training
- keep up to date with news and research on internet safety
Further reading
Safeguarding children and protecting professionals in early years settings: online safety guidance for practitioners: UK Council for Internet Safety.
Internet safety checklist for pre-school children: Internet Matters.
Online Safety in the Early Years: London Grid for Learning (LGFL).