Screen use by children aged under five: independent report
Evidence underpinning the guidance UK screen time guidance
Screen use: How to limit children’s screen use in settings and ensure it supports children’s learning and development
DfE guidance for early years settings
UK Government screen time guidance
Guidance on how families can support healthy screen habits for children under 5
Generative artificial intelligence (AI)
Policy paper on AI in education settings, with free support materials; not specifically on early years but useful guidance and key messages
Guidance from the UK Council for Internet Safety; Separate guidance available for managers and for educators
Online Safety Resources in the Early Years
Free Policy/Audit resources and Tools for EY settings: online safety considerations
Resources from internetmatters.org
Free online safety teacher resources relating specifically to early years
Guides and resources from Safer Internet.org.uk
Free training resources including the baby room, prompting reflection on good practice (for settings)
Guides and resources from Safer Internet.org.uk
Free training resources including the baby room, prompting reflection on good practice (for families)
Age-specific activities to support children’s media literacy and critical thinking online
Learn together Cambridgeshire – STEM in the Early Years
A range of activities and resources for settings and home-based play
Young Children in Digital Society
Various resources for families and educators on a range of topics in digital contexts
Digital Technology and the Early Years
Videos for practitioners and with resources for families from the Literacy Trust
Sesame workshop digital wellbeing resources
A series of resources aimed at promoting digital wellbeing among children and families
Digital Technology – a 4-part series for early years educators by Fiona Joines
A series designed to help educators consider how and why to use technology with young children
Common Sense Media education + Digital Citizen character posters
Colourful and informative posters to support digital citizenship in early years and primary settings
Using apps to support your child’s communication skills
Online guide from Speech & Language UK to help families choose apps language and communication apps (also useful for educators)
Reviews on children’s toys (including tech toys/ apps), designed to help adults find resources that are safe, suitable, educational and fun
Richard Waite Presentation from Childcare & Education Expo March 2026
The use of digital technology in several nursery settings around the UK – a Case Study
Richard Waite Presentation from 2025 TACTYC Conference
Children & adults playing together in a digital world presentation – a Case Study
Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Report (2025)
The most recent Ofcom research into children’s media literacy/use – ages 3 – 18
Children of the 2020s: home learning environment and screen time at age 2 (2026)
Findings from the DfE Children of the 2020s study on factors that influence cognitive and social-emotional development during early childhood; the screen time report is at the last one
This report considers how digital technology features in young children’s lives and makes links between research and practice in Froebelian education today
Trends in children and young people’s reading in print and digital formats (2026)
This report brings together evidence from the National Literacy Trust’s Annual Literacy Survey (relating to children aged 5-18)
Review examining current research on the relation between children (from infancy to age 8 years) and screens, using principles from the Science of Learning as a guide
Young children and screen-based media (2023)
Summary of research on media impacts and messages to share with families- Focuses on the impact of screen-based media on cognitive and socioemotional development and the importance of parental mediation
Toddlers, Tech and Talk (2024)
An ESRC-funded project led by Manchester Metropolitan University. It focuses on 0-3-year-old children’s language and literacy learning at home in a digital age
Talk with Me leaflet series on screen use and children’s language (not published yet)
Leaflets produced by the University of Oxford for the Welsh Government. Separate leaflets for parents and EYEs, plus a guide for choosing apps to promote learning, language and co-play