MOH’s New Screen Time Guidelines: What Every Parent Needs to Know!
Managing children’s screen time has become imperative for all parents in today's digital world.
At Coding Lab, we too, firmly believe that screen time should be managed thoughtfully.
The latest Ministry of Health (MOH) guidelines (2025) provide clearer recommendations to help families navigate device use in a healthy and productive way.
Understanding the New Guidelines for Kids Aged 7-12
Singapore’s MOH advises that children in this age group:
✅ Limit recreational screen time (playing games, watching videos, or scrolling through social media) to under two hours a day
✅ Use devices purposefully (e.g., for learning and problem-solving rather than passive entertainment)
✅ Follow structured screen use plans to balance online and offline activities
✅ Avoid unrestricted internet access and ensure age-appropriate content
✅ Take regular breaks to protect eye health and mental well-being
✅ Turn off devices during meals and at least one hour before bedtime
These guidelines emphasize the importance of quality over quantity when it comes to screen time. So, how can we ensure children are using their devices productively?
Read on to discover our simple and actionable tips to foster good habits in children for life. (Hint: —it's about making it purposeful and enriching!)
Productive Screen Time - 3 Rules to Building Healthy Screen Habits
Productive Screen Time = Good Screen Time
Not all screen time is equal.
We know our kids are in trouble when the term “Brain rot” is the Oxford Word of the Year (2024) -amid concerns over endless social media scrolling and mind-numbing content. And honestly, can we really say that they are solely to blame for this?
Your child’s creations can even be placed on the global stage - like our Coding Lab students who won various top prizes at the MIT AI & Education Summit 2024!
As adults, we too are guilty of indulging in recreational screen time—such as playing games, watching videos, or scrolling through social media, in between our work tasks or to unwind after a busy day. Left unchecked, the trouble with this is that it’s a passive consumption of screen time.
On the other hand, productive screen time should ensure that our children:
🔹 Create, don’t just consume - code a game, compose music, make digital art
🔹 Bring ideas to life—confidently craft a digital presentation, write an essay, code a Math Quiz
🔹 Develop computational thinking skills- learn to break down problems and give instructions in a clear structured manner; a highly valued 21st-century transferable skill across various fields in life
At Coding Lab, our classes transform screen time into an interactive, educational experience. Instead of passive consumption, students actively engage in coding, problem-solving, and creativity—all while following good digital habits.
For example, In our Minecraft: Code Your World course, students don’t just play Minecraft—they code their own modifications (mods), automate builds, and create mini-games within the platform. This turns gaming into a productive, educational experience.
Enforcing Regular Breaks for Better Focus & Well-Being
Educator Edmund and our Young Computer Scientists doing some deskercise - with grandpa joining in the fun!
🔹 Moving away from their laptops or digital devices—students physically step away from or put aside their screens to rest their eyes.
🔹 Staying active—they can move around, stretch, or play with their friends.
🔹 Enjoying a quick snack—a short refreshment break helps them refocus.
At Coding Lab, we make sure students take at least a 5-minute break every 60 minutes of screen time. This applies to both our in-person and online classes, ensuring that students maintain healthy screen habits no matter where they are learning.
Teaching Cyber Safety & Digital Responsibility
With unrestricted, unfettered, internet access being a concern, it is important to educate our children on digital safety and responsible screen use. This includes:
✅ Understanding online privacy and how to protect personal information
✅ Recognizing safe vs. unsafe websites and downloads
✅ Avoiding excessive screen time outside of class
💡 Tutor’s Role: In our Scratch coding classes, tutors teach students how to share their projects safely without revealing personal details, building a strong foundation for digital responsibility.
Parents: You can further reinforce these 3 rules at home by:
Having open conversations about internet safety and setting clear screen time boundaries.
Using parental controls and antivirus software wisely to protect children without overly restricting their learning opportunities.
Encouraging digital literacy — teaching kids to think critically about the information they consume online.
By working together, parents and tutors help children navigate the digital world safely and responsibly, ensuring that screen time remains both educational and secure.
It's About Smart Screen Time, Not Just Less Screen Time
As technology continues to shape the future, completely eliminating screens isn’t realistic—but making screen time meaningful is.
With the right approach, digital devices can become tools for creativity, innovation, and skill-building rather than just sources of entertainment. At Coding Lab, we empower students to code, think critically, and create—all while reinforcing healthy digital habits.
Let’s say NO to passive screen time and YES to meaningful, enriching digital activities!
Want to get a headstart on productive screen time? Sign up for our MIT-inspired, award-winning classes aged 7-18!