Resources to Support Healthy Media Habits and Digital Wellness for Young Children

Healthy relationships with media start in early childhood. The Early Childhood Development and Screen Time Toolkit was developed for use by early childhood educators, childcare providers, early interventionists, home visitors, pediatricians, or other professionals who support families with young children.

 

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How to Use This Toolkit

We recommend that early childhood professionals start by exploring the Training Resources below, and then consider how the Parent-Facing Resources, available in English and Spanish below, could be integrated into your current work with families. We invite you to use whichever tip sheets, social media messages, infographics or posters would complement the important work you already do!

Training Resources for Early Childhood Professionals

Use these resources to build your knowledge about screens and early childhood and to engage effectively with families.

Training Resources

Introductory Training Video

Center of Excellence Co-Medical Director Dr. Jenny Radesky discusses research on early childhood and digital media, as well as tips for implementing this toolkit.

Early Childhood Conversation Starters

Unsure how to talk to families about this topic? These conversation starters provide practical steps for a strengths-based, guilt-free conversation.

The 5 Cs of Media Use Article

This International Journal of Birth and Parenting Education article describes the 5 Cs of Media Use approach from the Center of Excellence and how it can be applied to early childhood encounters. 

Poster for Early Childhood Centers

Use this poster in your early childhood center as a supportive way to remind caregivers to be intentional with media, as well as other enriching activities to fit into a child’s day. 

How to Talk to Families about Young Children and Screen Time

Talking about screen use can be tricky! These ready-to-use messages help early childhood programs, childcare centers, and other groups share strengths-based tips with families. Use them in newsletters, texts, apps, or social media to support healthy screen habits.

Parent-Facing Resources

Include these tip sheets in newsletters, social media posts, or send them home in backpacks. Combine them with your favorite resources about child development, play, or nature.

Resources for Parents

5 Cs of Media Use in Early Childhood

The 5 Cs of Media Use helps families understand the essential aspects of healthy media use, beyond screen time. 

Infographic: Using Screens for Calming

This infographic breaks down what can occur when technology is or isn’t used to help calm a child during a time of heightened emotions.

Infographic: How to Find Good Content for Young Children

Finding high-quality content can sometimes feel like a difficult task. This stoplight-themed infographic helps families understand the good content, the content that may be considered an occasional treat, and what to avoid.

Infographic: Screens and Emotional Growth

These 2 infographics illustrate how using technology to manage emotions can shape the path of children’s emotional growth.

Tipsheet: Parent Screen Time Boundaries

This tipsheet will help parents understand the importance of balancing their own media use, being an example of healthy media habits for their children, and provide practical tips on managing their own media use. 

Tipsheet: Reboot Your Family’s Tech Life

The practical steps provided in this tipsheet will help families reboot their family’s relationship with technology when it may feel out of control or exhausting to manage. A menu of non-tech activities for families is provided on the back.

Tipsheet: Screens at Supper

Screens at the dinner table can be a distraction for the whole family. This tipsheet provides families with the knowledge and practical tips for encouraging tech-free mealtimes.

Tipsheet: Co-Viewing Screens with Young Children

This tipsheet provides parents the knowledge and tools to effectively co-view media with their young child.

Tipsheet: Help Your Young Child Transition Away From Screens

This tipsheet breaks down practical steps for how parents can effectively help their child transition away from media.

Parent-Facing Resources in Spanish

Access our parent-facing resources in Spanish to support your family’s digital well-being. Find handouts and tip sheets that make healthy media habits easier to practice.

View Spanish Resources

 

The Early Childhood Development and Screen Time Toolkit was developed by the Center of Excellence with valuable feedback from the following organizations:

 

Funding for the Center of Excellence was made possible by Grant No. SM087180 from SAMHSA of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, SAMHSA/HHS or the US Government.

Last Updated

10/07/2025

Source

American Academy of Pediatrics