Is too much screen time hurting kids’ development?
It’s back-to-school time, and this past summer’s hot weather may have kept you cooped up inside with air conditioning more than usual. That could lead to kids spending more time with electronics and in front of TV screens.
Now, research published in both JAMA Pediatric and Psychology Today shows that screen time in young children can negatively impact children’s language and emotional development. Researchers link the changes to speech and development estimating that for every minute of television watched, a child hears six fewer words from adults. That can slow down their development with both social and language skills.
Impacts on kids under 5
Part of the research highlighted the cases of two children ages 2 and 3 1/2 years old. The younger child would throw fits if he was denied access to his mother’s smartphone. The older child had just started preschool but didn’t respond to her name, couldn’t follow directions, and constantly carried her electronic tablet with her while quoting cartoon shows. One of the article’s authors treated the children in speech pathology. In addition, pediatricians recommended reducing their screen time. Did that help?
The authors (both speech pathologists) noted that after two months of zero screen time, the older child dramatically improved in social skills and preschool and caught up in language skills. When the younger child was limited to 20 minutes of screen time per day, his language and social skills also improved.
“One key takeaway is that for every minute of screen time, kids hear six fewer words from adults, which is a critical factor in early language acquisition,” said Dr. Joe Aracri, Chair of Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Pediatrics. “A recent study noted children could be missing out on 1,139 adult words, 843 vocalizations, and 194 conversational turns per day, if they are doubling the recommended screen time.”
That can be harmful because it reduces real interactions and can have a detrimental impact on a child’s overall socialization skills. “Children need playful interactions with other children and adults alike to best nurture social-emotional, cognitive, and language skills,” Aracri says. “Screen time often replaces these vital one-on-one interactions, potentially delaying language and social development.”
Is all screen time bad?
The lingering question is whether all screen time is bad for kids, or are there programs and games that can enhance social and language development?
“No, not all screen time is inherently bad,” says Aracri. “The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests children under 18 months can video chat with relatives. For preschoolers, an hour of high-quality content, like “Sesame Street” or “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” can be sufficient. The key is moderation and selecting educational content.”
If you’re searching for some positive, helpful screen content, there is a locally produced show that fits the bill. AHN just celebrated the second anniversary of its own children’s show Cai & Kate, which is geared toward children ages 3 to 6. It focuses on emotional well-being and helps children understand and cope with their “big feelings.” The show aims to foster emotional wellness for children and their families. It can be found on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@CaiandKate.
How much is too much?
Warning signs of too much screen time can include children becoming detached from their environment, having difficulty following directions, reciting phrases from TV shows, and having temper tantrums when screens are removed.
“Also, watch for being less attentive to the world around them and having a hard time making age-appropriate connections with their peers and family members,” Aracri said.
As for tips on how to best manage screen time for kids, he recommends limiting screen time and ensuring the content is high quality.
“For children under 18 months, focus on video chats with relatives instead of active or passive screen time with programming,” he adds. “Preschoolers should have no more than an hour per day of educational content.”
Finally, he recommends establishing clear rules and limits for digital media use once school starts and being engaged in children’s activities that may not involve screen time.
“Appreciate and understand the power of play and being outside,” Aracri said. “If you reduce the amount of screen time dramatically, quickly and with clear guardrails, you should begin to see language and social skills quickly flourish.”
When stuck to screens constantly, young children can become detached from their surroundings. The high level of stimulation in cartoons or flashing lights and music on television shows, videos and computer games can compel children to stay glued to the devices. The children in this case study were allowed screen time between six to 10 hours per day and threw tantrums when their devices were removed.
The bottom line is that children can learn from shows and games on screens, but learning from adults is more effective.