What are the pros and cons? And what do we as parents need to know? Most of us have a lot of technology in our homes —smartphones, tablets, TVs, laptops and games consoles to name a few. Yet screen time for little ones can be a divisive topic, with parents often having strong opinions on it. Here we look at the evidence.
We weigh up the advantages and disadvantages, and talk to parents about their choices. Decades of research on screen time has revealed associations with both positive and negative developmental outcomes see below. But the evidence is far from conclusive and more research into the effects of screen time on children is needed Stiglic, This mixed evidence base has led to unclear and contradictory recommendations around screen time for children.
So it is an important topic for parents and early-years practitioners to be mindful of Hesketh et al, ; BPS, But they do recommend an upper limit of two hours per day for all children NHS, Interestingly, American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines recommend a zero screen time rule except for video calls for children under 18 months AAP, For toddlers aged 18 to 24 months, they suggest a limited amount of screen time. And for two- to five-year-old children, one hour a day. They say screen time should involve educationally appropriate content that children watch with a parent AAP, Increased screen time is linked to many health issues, like obesity and diabetes, as it encourages a more sedentary lifestyle Robinson, ; NHS ; Stiglic and Viner, For example, one study found that children who used screens for more than two hours a day were more likely to have high blood pressure de Moraes et al, One of the more well established health impacts of screen time is on sleep.
Several studies have reported strong and consistent evidence that longer screen use during the day is associated with worse sleep. This in turn might affect health and cognitive development Carter et al, Another study with six- to month-old children found that as time spent using touchscreens increased, there was a decrease in the amount of sleep; children were also taking longer to go to sleep Cheung et al, But another large study found that any negative effects of screens on wellbeing were so small that they could not make recommendations about screen use Orben and Przybylski, Some research in younger children one to three year olds who watched TV showed increased levels of attention deficit disorders at the age of seven Christakis, Although a more recent review found that evidence for this was weak Stiglic, High quality TV programmes and apps aim to help toddlers with their language development, shape and colour recognition, numeracy and literacy.
They also aim to promote problem solving, visual thinking and imagination. Educational apps are those that help toddlers learn these things in active, engaging, meaningful and socially interactive ways Hirsh-Pasek et al, Babies and toddlers learn when adults interact with them alongside screen time Brown, ; AAP, As well as warning against passive screen time, it says babies should not spend longer than an hour at a time strapped into a buggy, car seat or sling.
The WHO advice is based on available evidence, but there is still a lack of definitive research into the harms and possible benefits of screen use. However, it was unlikely very young children gained from passive, sedentary viewing, said one of the guideline authors, Dr Juana Willumsen.
Reading a book with your child, for example, can help them develop their language skills. Some TV programmes that encouraged young children to move about while viewing might be OK, she added, particularly if the parent or caregiver was also present to explain and join in. In the US, experts say children should not use screens before they are 18 months old. In Canada, screen time for children younger than two is not recommended.
But UK guidelines set no such limit. Dr Tim Smith, a brain development expert at Birbeck, University of London, said parents were being bombarded with conflicting advice, which could be confusing.
Paula Morton, a teacher and mother of two young children, said her son learned a lot from watching programmes about dinosaurs and came out with "random facts about them". If a family are satisfied with their answers to these questions, then they are likely to be handling screen time well, the college says.
Screen time 'may harm toddlers'. Silicon Valley parents are concerned enough about the addictive potential of screen time that many of them are eliminating it completely for their children. Sleep is essential for the development of the brain, particularly during the first few years of life. Additional research has shown links between screen time and toddler obesity , sleep disruption during early childhood, and diminished fine motor development. Screen time can reduce quality time with loved ones Before we all had smartphones, earlier research was already showing that time spent watching TV was taking away from time interacting with siblings and parents, engaging in creative play, and doing homework.
But it can make chats with Grandma and Grandpa more enriching Scientists have shared that video chats such as Facetime are different from other screen media, and not harmful in the same way. Make the best of video chats. Zero to Three has 5 tips for making the most of them. Traveling without a device usually means carrying more stuff with you like books, crafts play dough, washable markers, pipe cleaners and pom poms and snacks, as well as accepting that your child is going to take much of your focus.
One tactic that works for some is audio books with kid headphones. You can usually find the audio books that go with picture books you already have, so your child can follow along as they listen. Make the most of props around you.
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