Screen use: what uses for what age?

1 April 2026

Today, the screens are part of the daily But each stage of development has different needs.

To provide a simple framework that parents can apply, the child psychiatrist Serge Tisseron proposed progressive benchmarks, known as rules 3-6-9-12. They enable support children to a more age-appropriate, balanced, safe and aware use of screens.

The 3-6-9-12 rules for managing screens

Before the age of 3: keep screens to a minimum

Before the age of 3, we recommend avoid screens as much as possible.

At this age, what children need most is :

from games physical
interactions with adults
experiments concrete (touching, moving, manipulating)

The screens can restrict this essential learning and brake the development of language, attention and social skills.

3 to 6 years: supervised and shared screens

Between the ages of 3 and 6, children begin to visit screens, but it must not use alone.

Best practice :

no personal console or tablet
no screens in the bedroom
no screens in the evening before going to bed
occasional and accompanied use

Screens must remain a moment shared with an adult, and not an independent occupation.

For choose of appropriate content, There are also specialised sites where you can check whether a film, series or cartoon is suitable for your child's age, such as : https://www.filmspourenfants.net/

Video games, if your child has access to video games, It is also important to rely on the PEGI, which indicates the recommended age and the type of content (violence, fear, online interactions, etc.), in order to choose the right adapted games to their age and sensitivity.

From 6 to 9 years old: discover the internet with a guide

From the age of 6, children can start à explore Internet, but always with active support.

This is also the age when they learn:

rules for living together online
respect for privacy
image rights

9 to 12 years: learning to be digitally independent

Between the ages of 9 and 12, children gains in autonomy, But it still needs a clear framework.

Now's the time to find out how:

manage your screen time
protect your privacy
develop a critical approach to content

After the age of 12: more autonomy, but still dialogue

After the age of 12, teenagers gain in autonomy on the internet, particularly with the frequent arrival of their first telephone. While they are becoming more independent in their use, they are still exposed to certain risks.

To support them, it is important to :

set up a parental control, a useful tool for regulating screen time and making use of it safer
avoid the screens the night, to preserve sleep
maintain one balance between life online and offline, by using practical tools such as the fridge leaflet kit“, which helps the whole family to organise their screen time.

And after the age of 15: supervised autonomy

From adolescence onwards, young people gain independence, But parents remain an essential point of reference.

Points to watch :

frame the use of social media Defining what is acceptable and what is not (for example: protecting your privacy by creating a private account, avoiding sharing intimate or sensitive content, thinking before you publish, respecting others online, not responding to solicitations from strangers, etc.).
encourage the use of “teenage accounts” proposed by certain platforms, in order to better control confidentiality, interactions and time spent online.
continue to exchange regularly, for example :“What interested you today on the networks?” , “Did you see any content that questioned you?” These exchanges open up dialogue without judgement.
sleep management (avoid using the telephone at night)
balance between screens, studies, leisure and social life
capacity to take some back on the contents

In short, helping a child to use screens does not mean ban everything or authorise everything, but move forward with him, step by step, to help them become autonomous, responsible and informed users. Leading by example Adopting a sensible approach to screen use is just as important.

To complete these benchmarks, you can consult the Ministry of Education flyer