Translating screen-media guidance into caregiver practices: moving from digital silos to shared spaces for young...

Screen time guidelines for preschoolers have heavily relied on duration controls. Recently, guidelines have evolved to focus on the content and context of use; however, digital health impacts are still widely measured against guideline targets that apply a one-size-fits-all assumption. Despite these recommendations, a global meta-analysis shows that only 35.6% of children under age five adhere to these guidelines. This low compliance is driven by contemporary lifestyle demands, busy parental schedules, and constrained urban spaces. Compounded by socioeconomic disparities and a lack of practical ideas for alternative activities, screens have become a default domestic childcare arrangement, escalating passive, isolated consumption. This paper introduces a three-layered ecological framework that bridges the gap between the targets of institutional guidelines and the diverse ground realities of managing digital engagement across different socioeconomic statuses. It lays out a practical blueprint to operationalize these objectives through a protocol that integrates screen awareness, meaningful alternatives, active engagement, responsive caregiving, and traditional games. This framework provides actionable guidance to help families transition from digital silos to interactive, shared spaces, aiming to alleviate parental stress and support the parent-child relationship.