Impact of Early Touchscreen Use on Toddler Development
Overview of Research Findings
A research group from the UK explored the effects of early touchscreen use on toddlers’ development. Their study revealed that while touchscreen usage did not impact children’s language and gross motor skills, it contributed to earlier fine motor development.
Context of the Study
As the prevalence of touchscreen devices in households continues to rise, concerns about their influence on young children’s development have emerged. Previous studies suggest that television viewing and video game engagement may have more detrimental effects compared to touchscreen use, but the specific impacts of touchscreens remain largely unexplored.
Study Details
The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology as part of the Toddler Attentional Behaviours and Learning with Touchscreens (TABLET) project. The research focused on the touchscreen habits of children aged 6 to 36 months and examined the relationship between their initial touchscreen experience and developmental milestones.
Methodology
A total of 715 parents participated by completing an online questionnaire regarding their children’s exposure to touchscreens and the age at which they achieved motor and language developmental milestones. The results indicated that, on average, families owned 3.73 devices, with nearly 10% of children aged 6 to 36 months having their own device.
Usage Statistics
The data showed that 75% of the children regularly used touchscreens, a figure that rose to 92.05% by 25 to 36 months. Additionally, daily screen time increased from 24.45 minutes at 6 to 11 months to 43.95 minutes by the age of 25 to 36 months. The average age for first touchscreen use was reported to be 13.13 months.
Key Findings
The researchers found no significant correlation between the age of first touchscreen use and gross motor or language development. However, they noted a significant association between the age of first touchscreen use (specifically scrolling) and the fine motor skill of stacking blocks.
Conclusions
In summary, early engagement with touchscreen devices, particularly scrolling activities, does not appear to hinder language and gross motor development but may facilitate the advancement of fine motor skills. This suggests that the current guideline advocating for zero screen time until the age of two may need to be reassessed.
Written By: Dr. Fanni R. Eros
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