France wants to ban screens for children under 3, even at home

The French government is preparing to ban screen time for children under three years old. This ban also applies when you are at home.

“Banning screen exposure for the youngest, from birth to the age of three” is the wish of Catherine Vautrin, the Minister of Health and Solidarity. In an interview with JDD, she announced that she plans to publish a decree banning screens in childcare facilities for children under three in the coming weeks.

Television, computer, smartphone, tablet, all types of screens will be affected. Public places will have to comply, but this measure will also have to be applied in the private sphere, “including at home”, notes Catherine Vautrin. She specifies that it will not be possible for the authorities to verify whether the ban is being respected everywhere, but that as with the ban on spanking, it is a matter of "instilling the idea that it is not done.".

No screens before the age of 3, without exception

Last year, Emmanuel Macron formed a commission of experts to obtain recommendations regarding children's screen exposure and time. It advised banning all screens before the age of three, and gradually introducing them under adult supervision and in a very limited way, with educational content, up to the age of six. Then, there was talk of owning a phone without internet access from the age of 11, a smartphone from the age of 13, and access to social networks from the age of 15. More recently, a report by health experts warned that devices “permanently impair health and intellectual abilities.”.

“Professionals are already highly aware of the impact of screens on young children. They have contributed to the development of a framework on the quality of childcare that already mentions this ban, and this will give them an even stronger basis for advising parents,” adds Catherine Vautrin.

The government will conduct communication campaigns to raise awareness among parents. Information will also be shared by the Family Allowance Fund and the Health Insurance Fund, particularly through the health record and maternity record.