Screen time and well-being among children

Release date: March 19, 2026
More information PDF version
Infographic: Screen time and well-being among children
Description: Screen time and well-being among children

According to results observed for the same cohort of children in 2019 and 2023, 44% followed the Canadian Paediatric Society’s screen time guidelinesNote 1 in both years, while 12% did not follow them in either year.Note 2

Children who followed the guidelines both years were more likely to have better well-being outcomes than children who did not Table summary
The information is grouped by Well-being outcome (appearing as row headers), , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
Well-being outcome Followed guidelines in 2019 and 2023 Did not follow guidelines in 2019 or 2023
Excellent or very good health 91.3% 81.9%
Excellent or very good mental health 80.0% 66.9%
Never appeared anxious or nervous in the previous year 21.9% 17.8%
Never appeared sad or depressed in the previous year 45.4% 37.7%
No headaches in the previous 6 months 69.3% 52.6%
No difficulties falling asleep in the previous 6 months 65.6% 52.8%
Overall mark of 70% or higher in school 90.6% 86.2%
In 2023, children who followed the guidelines both years were less likely to experience certain challenges than children who did not Table summary
The information is grouped by Functional difficulty (appearing as row headers), , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
Functional difficulty Followed guidelines in 2019 and 2023 Did not follow guidelines in 2019 or 2023
Anxiety disorder 3.2% 6.6%
Wears glasses or contact lenses 25.4% 32.1%
Difficulty learning things 4.8% 5.4%
Difficulty remembering things 7.2% 9.8%
Difficulty accepting change 6.8% 9.4%
Difficulty controlling behaviour 5.3% 10.9%
Difficulty making friends 4.8% 8.2%
Children who did not follow the guidelines in either year were more likely to use an electronic device in their bedroom before bed Table summary
The information is grouped by Well-being outcome (appearing as row headers), , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
Well-being outcome Followed guidelines in 2019 and 2023 Did not follow guidelines in 2019 or 2023
Used an electronic device in their bedroom before falling asleep in the 7 days preceding the survey 23.8% 63.9%
Talked with a parent or guardian about online safety at least sometimes 82.6% 88.1%
Talked with a parent or guardian about online privacy at least sometimes 76.9% 83.2%
Their parent or guardian often or always knew what the child was doing online 88.1% 72.5%

Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, 2019 and 2023.

More information

Note of appreciation

Canada owes the success of its statistical system to a long-standing partnership between Statistics Canada, the citizens of Canada, its businesses, governments and other institutions. Accurate and timely statistical information could not be produced without their continued co-operation and goodwill.

Standards of service to the public

Statistics Canada is committed to serving its clients in a prompt, reliable and courteous manner. To this end, the Agency has developed standards of service which its employees observe in serving its clients.

Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2026

Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

Date modified: