Children, young people and screen time
Practical advice for families on healthy, safe and balanced screen use.
Screens are part of everyday life and can support learning, creativity and connection. This guidance helps parents and carers set age-appropriate boundaries so screen time does not interfere with sleep, development, physical activity, emotional wellbeing or family life.
Useful links
Gibraltar’s vision
To enable a generation of children to mindfully and safely use technology and screen time in a positive way that supports their development and learning.
The key message
Under 2s
No screen time is recommended for children under two, except where clinically or practically necessary.
Ages 2–4
Keep screen use short, high-quality and ideally co-viewed with an adult. Less is better.
Older children
Screen use should not interfere with sleep, school, physical activity, family time, mood or friendships.
Why this matters
Gibraltar’s Children & Screen Time Strategy recognises that screen time is a complex issue. The aim is not to blame parents or ban technology. The aim is to support families, schools, healthcare services and the wider community to create healthier routines.
Excessive screen time may affect:
- sleep quality and bedtime routines;
- language, communication and attention in younger children;
- physical activity and outdoor play;
- emotional regulation and mood;
- face-to-face social interaction;
- online safety, cyberbullying and harmful content in older children.
The Gibraltar norms we are working towards
The strategy aims to reset what feels normal for children, families and the wider community.
Advice by age group
What local research has shown
Research undertaken with secondary school students in Gibraltar has helped shape the strategy. The University of Gibraltar study included students from Years 7 to 13.
of young people overall reported having a smartphone.
smartphone ownership increased from Year 7 to Year 13.
of boys and girls reported using screens as soon as they wake up.
of boys and girls reported using screens right up until they fall asleep.
reported feeling no connection to their classmates.
What Gibraltar is doing
This is a cross-community approach led by Public Health, Education and the GHA, with support from schools, families, charities, the voluntary sector and young people.
- Clear public advice: simple, age-based messages for parents, carers, grandparents, children and teenagers.
- Practical alternatives: signposting families to outdoor activities, clubs, sport, reading, creative play and non-screen activities.
- Health and education settings: supporting school readiness, developmental health and reduced reliance on screens.
- Smartphone-free school approach: strengthening phone-free routines during the school day.
- Awareness campaign: raising awareness in a practical, non-blaming way.
A behaviour-change approach
The strategy uses the COM-B model: capability, opportunity and motivation.
- Capability: give families practical resources, guidance and alternatives to screen time.
- Opportunity: make healthier routines easier in schools, healthcare, homes and community spaces.
- Motivation: raise awareness of why change matters, including the role adults play in modelling behaviour.
Simple changes families can try
Frequently asked questions
Parents and carers often have practical questions about screen time, including how much is too much, how to set boundaries, how to manage gaming or social media, and how to support children of different ages.
The FAQ guide includes advice on:
- younger children and lower primary school;
- upper primary school children;
- teenagers and secondary school pupils;
- gaming, social media and educational screen use;
- setting boundaries without conflict;
- screen-free routines, sleep, family time and outdoor alternatives.
How progress will be monitored
The strategy includes proposed monitoring and evaluation so Gibraltar can understand whether the work is making a difference.
- Pre-school children: track developmental milestone data over time.
- Primary school children: develop a system to capture school readiness.
- Secondary school children: repeat screen time surveys at two-yearly intervals, subject to funding and school agreement.
- Parents and carers: use short pre- and post-campaign surveys to understand changes in awareness.
Resources and support
The following resources may help families find advice, support and alternatives to screen time.
- Smartphone Free Childhood
- UEFA Take Care: Screen Addiction Resources
- Children’s Commissioner for England
- Gibraltar Cultural Services Organisations
- Gibraltar Sports and Leisure Authority Sports Directory
- Gibraltar Scouting Association
- Girlguiding Gibraltar
Support lines
- Childline: 8008
- Teenline: 8009
- GibSams: 116123
Download the strategy
Read Gibraltar’s Children & Screen Time Strategy for the full vision, background, local findings, campaign framework and monitoring approach.
