Infant Screen Time Delays Brain Development, Study Finds
By Movieguide® Contributor
A new study found a link between a baby’s screen time and delayed development in communication, fine motor skills and problem-solving.
Japanese researchers studied 7,000 babies that were 1 year old to better understand how a baby’s screen time affects their brain’s development.
“The more screen time these babies had at 1 year of age, the worse their developmental milestones were at 2 years of age, particularly in the realm of communication,” ABC News’ chief health and medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton told Good Morning America. “Some of those developmental issues, like fine and gross motor skills and problem-solving skills, may have shown a ding at age 2 but then kind of compensated and recovered by age four.”
Fox News reported, “Those who spent four or more hours on their devices were 5.78 times more likely to experience the same delays as they got older. They were also 1.74 times more likely to have underdeveloped fine motor skills and two times more likely to have not properly developed their personal and social skills.”
“But again, this showed that more screen time [is] not good for a one-year-old brain,” Ashton added.
Interestingly, the study did not differentiate screen time for entertainment versus screen time for education, suggesting that screen usage for any purpose harms a one-year-old’s brain.
“Babies at 1 year of age need face-to-face communication,” Ashton said, explaining why even educational screen time is detrimental for babies. “They need that for their social development. They need that for their language development and you can’t sub that out with a screen.”
This research supports previous studies in this area, which have also found that screen time is detrimental to a baby’s development. Because of this, GMA notes, the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children under 1-year-old have no screen time in their everyday lives.
Movieguide® previously reported on the detriment of screen time on kids:
A recent study recommends no screen time for babies under 18 months as digital media significantly alters a child’s brain activity and development.
The study published in Jama Pediatrics found that children with greater digital media exposure showed lower alertness at 18 months compared to children with less or no screen time.
Additionally, to study the long-term effects of infant screen time, the kids participated in cognitive ability tests after they turned 9.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
