Early Childhood Protection

Exposure to screens now prohibited in places where young children are welcomed

Publié le 11 juillet 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

An order published in the Official Journal of 2 july 2025 amended the national charter for the care of young children. It is now forbidden to expose children under 3 years of age to screens, especially in nurseries, day-care centers or reception places offered by childminders.

An expert commission on the impact of young people's exposure to screens was set up in January 2024 by the President of the Republic. In the report of that committeepublished on 30 april 2024, it stated, inter alia, that: ‘there was a clear consensus within the commission on the need to voluntarily protect the youngest children from exposure to screens, with particular vigilance during the first years of life’. In particular, the members of the commission proposed to “strengthen the current recommendation not to expose children under 3 years of age to screens”.

Since July 3, 2025, the National Charter for the Care of Young Children states that it is “forbidden to expose a child under 3 years of age in front of a screen (smartphone, tablet, computer, television) given the risks to its development”.

Until then, it was stated in this charter that “it is not recommended to leave a child under 3 years old in front of a screen (smartphone, tablet, computer, television) given the risks to its development”.

This national charter is intended for all professionals in the care of young children, whether they work in individual or collective care (childminders, employees of nurseries, micro-nurseries or day-care centers, etc.).

The document also states that the child needs to interact with his environment, use his five senses and be in motion.

Please note

The National Health Insurance Fund will also send parents of children under the age of 3 an educational information letter to inform them of the ban on screen exposure in reception areas, and to offer them age benchmarks regarding the use of screens:

  • before 3 years: no screen, even when lit in the background;
  • between 3 and 6 years old: very occasional use, with an adult, to watch adapted content;
  • at any age: never screen during meals, before sleeping or to calm the child.

The National Health Insurance Fund states thatit is important for parents to lead by example and reduce their own screen time in the presence of their child.

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