Will Audio Content Save Kids From Screen Time?
By Movieguide® Contributor
As many parents search for solutions to their young children consuming endless streams of content, some are turning to technology inspired by the past, cutting out screen time in favor of audio content.
Some companies are meeting this demand by releasing products that harken to the ’80s and ’90s, giving children audio landscapes to explore, free from the addiction of screens. Two main products are currently on the market, both offering a similar experience with a main audio player that parents then buy physical cartridges for to play the audio content.
This is another way these products differ from the tech of today, as rather than offering a massive library of content through a subscription service, users have to buy each individual song or story and create their own library. While this makes the products more costly upfront, it could save consumers money in the long run, and it also removes the possibility of endless streaming.
“Children are able to focus more on what they’re hearing, allowing their imaginations to run wild in ways screens simply can’t and will never be able to offer,” John Bianchette, vice president of education and training at Mathnasium, told HuffPost. “It can be refreshing [for children] to escape screens and practive their ability to simply listen.”
This facilitation of imagination could prove crucial to a child’s cognitive development. Numerous studies released in recent years see a correlation between higher screen time with higher rates of developmental issues. Turning to audio content for entertainment and learning might prove to be the necessary change to combat this issue.
READ MORE: EXCESSIVE SCREEN TIME LINKED TO LOWER COGNITIVE FUNCTION, STUDY FINDS
For now, however, these products are not always successful at capturing children’s attention. This is largely due to kids already having exposure to screens, which colors their opinion of the audio tech, which is less engaging.
“It’s challenging to maintain a child’s interest when screens are so prevalent,” said Janice Robinson-Celeste, the founder of Successful Black Parenting magazine. “The rapid pace of digital technology easily captures children’s attention and can shorten their focus on other toys and activities.”
READ MORE: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU, YOUR KID AND SCREEN TIME
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