Overview

• Health Minister Catherine Vautrin said a government decree will bar screens for children from birth to age three in all settings, including at home.
• The policy is designed to reshape social norms on early screen use by drawing a parallel with France’s ban on physical punishment of children.
• Childcare professionals will be equipped with reinforced guidance and a quality-of-care framework to help advise parents against screen exposure.
• Parents will receive information through updated health and maternity booklets, communications from family allowance and health insurance agencies, and a nationwide outreach campaign.
• The announcement follows expert reports warning that exposure to tablets, televisions and smartphones can cause lasting harm to toddlers’ health and intellectual abilities.