It can be hard to know what and how much screen time is right for your family. Chicago Public Library is here to help!
Click here to view our Screen Time Guide, created in partnership with Dr. Jenny Radesky and the American Academy of Pediatrics Center for Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health.
Resources for grown-ups:
- Check out these blog post for more recommendations and advice from Dr. Radesky
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) created a Family Media Plan resource, which can help get your family on the same page!
- The AAP’s Center of Excellence (CoE) on Social Media and Youth Mental Health is dedicated to creating a healthy digital ecosystem for children and families. To start, take a look at their 5Cs of Media Use, Q&A Portal and the Calm Toolbox.
- Common Sense Media has many great resources for parents and caregivers concerned about kid’s media intake, including a 2025 report on Boys in the Digital Wild, parent guides on a variety of topics and a Youth AI Safety Institute.
- Most kids will use technology for school at some point; here are some recommendations from the American Psychological Association to think about.
- Spark & Stitch Institute offers free guides for parents around technology and resiliency, as well as thoughtful blog posts.
- At CPL, you can use Libby and Hoopla to check out eBooks, audiobooks, picture books for your kids and more! We also put together a list of children’s books about media literacy, as well as evidence-based parenting books.
Resources for kids:
- Podcasts are a great alternative to screen time for travel or downtime at home. Circle Round and Wow in the World are two of our favorites!
- The PBS KIDS website has great free games for kids featuring your favorite PBS characters!
- Play Two Truths & AI from Common Sense Media to test your AI detection abilities!
- Through CPL’s website, you can also play on Khan Academy and ABC Mouse for free!
- Of course, CPL has lots of books that support analog and social emotional skills! Check out these books about imagination and play, analog skills, and social emotional learning.