I don’t intend for this post to be overly negative, but I am concerned. I’m concerned that screens (iPads, phones, computers, and etc) are being overused by very young children at the baby and toddler age level. There are many concepts that children can learn through the use of hand held devices. But grown-ups, please be aware that there are many skills that screens cannot teach children. Screens have limitations in early learning. There is little research available, but the following are a few anecdotal observations that I have made.
Screens can’t…
Replace conversation with your child: When parents talk to their child we respond to their questions and engage in conversational turn-taking. One person makes a statement, and the other person responds. Children learn to read facial expressions and body language through their exeriences with other people. Screens can’t teach these pragmatic, conversational skills.
Replace reading to your child: When grown-ups read to children we often ask questions about a story. We relate the story to the interests of the child. We talk about the pictures. All of this interaction develops a child’s language and pre-literacy skills. As we read together we share inside jokes and giggles that are personal and that connect the story to our child’s life. Children ask questions and we respond to them. We bond with our children as we read to them and have our cozy bedtime routine or story time together.
Support fine motor development: To develop fine motor skills children need to hold and manipulate crayons, paintbrushes, and pencils in their hands. They need to build with blocks. Sliding a finger across a screen cannot replicate the physical manipulation of these tools and objects. There may be puzzle apps, but they cannot replicate the physical act of holding a puzzle piece, turning it, looking at the shape and colors, and sliding it into place. A screen cannot provide the sensory input and physical exercise that play dough provides as it is squished in small hands.
Screen Free Options:
- To suport the development of conversation and social skills have a screen free meal together
- Create a screen free zone in your home
- When in the car, have time when the family is just listening to music, playing an on-the-go game like this one or this one.
- When you’re fixing a meal, have your child draw a picture about the best part of the day, or let them help set the table or prepare the meal as they are capable.
- This blog, Creative Connections for Kids, is full of inexpensive ideas that are all about connecting and playing with your kids! 🙂
It may sound as if I think that screens are the scourage of the earth. I really don’t. I understand that they can be an absolute lifesaver on the the plane, in the doctor’s office, and etc. There are definitely skills and concepts that they teach preschoolers. However, please be aware of their limitations.
Regarding children under the age of two years the American Academy of Pediatrics states: “Television and other entertainment media should be avoided for infants and children under age 2. A child’s brain develops rapidly during these first years, and young children learn best by interacting with people, not screens.”
Resources
There is very little research available regarding young children and screens, but here are articles that address screens and children. I will add more as I find them:
Q&A with John Medina, author of Brain Rules for Babies
Ellen Galinsky – Texting, TV and Tech Trashing Children’s Attention Span
Common Sense Media – How to Set Screen Rules That Stick
Wall Street Journal – What Happens When a Toddler Zones Out on an iPad
Psychology Today – Is It Okay to Let Your Toddler Play with an iPad?
