MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama legislators have prefiled a bill that would dramatically restrict screen time for children.
House Bill 78, or “The Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act,” would prohibit screen use entirely for children under two years old in licensed childcare facilities, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms. For children ages two through four, the bill would cap screen time at 30 minutes per day and 90 minutes per week, with individual screen time banned altogether in favor of group viewing.
The legislation comes as pediatric experts increasingly warn about potential developmental risks from excessive screen exposure in early childhood. The bill references research linking excessive screen time in children under three to delayed communication skills, impaired problem-solving abilities and reduced social interaction…