The Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic, in cooperation with experts, issues "Recommendations for healthy use of screen media in children and adolescents Slovakia 2025" The aim of the comprehensive guide is to provide parents, carers and professionals with a preventive tool to prevent the emergence of so-called non-substance addictions that have a major impact on the mental health of all of us.
Children under 3 years of age should remain free from any active and passive use of the screens, while at the same time they should see as little as possible before the screen. Children under 9 years of age should not have access to the Internet, and a smartphone is recommended only for children over 12 years of age. Adolescents aged 12 - 16 can use the Internet on their own, but parents decide how long they should not spend more than 2 hours in front of the screen and not after 21.00. For the 16-year-old, the rules apply to the parent depending on the maturity of the child. Slovak recommendations for the healthy use of screen media in children and adolescents emerged as a consensus of professional companies (Slovak Society of Primary Paediatric Care SLS, Slovak Paediatric Society SLS, Slovak Chamber of Psychologists, Association of Clinical Psychologists or Research Institute of Children's Psychology and Pathopsychology). This is a task that the Slovak Ministry of Health has fulfilled on the basis of the resolution of the Council of the Government of the Slovak Republic on Mental Health and the Action Plan on the National Mental Health Programme 2024-2030. Experts in making recommendations for the healthy use of the media in children and adolescents were based on existing recommendations from other countries (Germany, France, Slovenia, Spain, USA and Italy).
The overview guide is available on the website of the Board of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Mental Health:
https://rvdz.sk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/OPPORATION display.pdf
General recommendations include:
- Remember, parents and older siblings are role models for a younger child. Think about the rules for healthy use of screen media not only in relation to the child, but also in relation to yourself.
- Do not give screen media to a child for a reward, or to calm it down.
- Create a family media plan, the rules for using family screens that are respected not only by children but also by adults.
- Introduce a family time without screens or -off-line-mode.
- Don't turn on any screens in the morning. Keep the screens at least one hour before sleep, keep screen media in another room when learning or working.