Overview
- Prien publicly set out the proposals on May 30, 2026, calling for children under three to have no contact with smartphones or tablets and saying lawmakers should at least consider legal rules to enforce parental limits.
- She is advancing a Kita‑Qualitätsentwicklungsgesetz that would require checks of children's language and development around their fourth birthday so those with delays receive targeted support before school.
- Prien cited rising developmental concerns and referenced research, including an Australian study linking parental digital distraction to poorer cognitive and social outcomes in young children.
- The proposals are discussion‑stage only and would need cooperation from Germany's federal states to decide on measures such as a compulsory pre‑school year and how data from regular performance checks is used.
- If adopted, the measures could change how early needs are identified and resourced and shift more responsibility onto parents, but practical questions remain about enforcing screen limits in private homes and the lawmaking timetable.