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Toddlers who clocked in an hour or more of screen time daily were found to be up to five times more likely to experience setbacks in the progression of their communicative skills by the age of two. These findings stem from a newly conducted study in Japan, as reported by JAMA Pediatrics.
Study Details
Researchers conducted an in-depth analysis involving data from 7,097 children born in Japan. The mothers of these children consistently updated a database for research purposes. The study focused on tracking the amount of time children spent watching television, engaging in video game play, or using electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and other electronic gadgets. This research initiative encompassed pregnant women within the period spanning from 2013 to 2017.
Mothers reported the duration their one-year-old children spent with gadgets. When the children reached the ages of two and four, mothers were also presented with a set of standardized questions concerning developmental progress. These inquiries included whether the child repeated two-word phrases, like “mommy, eat,” and whether the child could correctly point out images, such as “where’s the dog?”
Impact of Screen Time on Infant Development
Researchers have discerned a noteworthy correlation: children aged one and above who spent at least one hour daily in front of screens demonstrated a heightened likelihood of developmental delays in their communicative skills at the age of two, compared to those who had less than an hour of screen exposure.
Specifically, the study revealed that two-year-old children:
- Were 61% more likely to experience a delay in communication development if they engaged with screens for 1 to 2 hours daily at the age of one.
- Were twice as likely to experience a delays if they spent 2 to 4 hours daily with screens.
- Faced a fivefold increase in the likelihood of delays if they had 4 or more hours of daily screen time.
The authors highlighted the challenges of limiting screen time in today’s world. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises against screen time for children under 18 months, except for video chats.
Evidence is sufficient to recommend time limitations on digital media use for children 2 to 5 years to no more than 1 hour per day to allow children ample time to engage in other activities important to their health and development and to establish media viewing habits associated with lower risk of obesity later in life. In addition, encouraging parents to change to educational and prosocial content and engage with their children around technology will allow children to reap the most benefit from what they view.
The AAP’s policy on Media and Young Minds
AAP indicates that at 15 months old, children encounter difficulties in transferring knowledge from screens to the real world. Particularly when it comes to words learned from touch screens. For two-year-olds, AAP recommends focusing on word acquisition during interactive video chats with responsive adults.
