Abstract
Background: Children's screen use is receiving attention from scholars from different fields due to its potential harms. According to current recommendations by pediatric associations primary school-aged children should not exceed two hours in front of screens per day.
Methods: Two surveys were conducted in April 2021 (N = 1915) and October 2022 (N = 318) with parents of children attending grades 1-3 of primary schools (Mean age = 8.4) in Czechia (April 2021 and October 2022), Slovakia (April 2021) and Finland (April 2021).
Results: We found that most children did not meet the recommended limit both in April 2021 and October 2022. The most important sources of screen time were television and smartphones, especially if children have them for their exclusive personal use. Variables associated with excessive screen time was gender, age, and parental education.
Conclusions: Interventions for families that would help parents regulate their children's smartphone use are warranted.