A large British study of children born in 2020 has attracted attention because it identifies links between screen use, language, and behavior among two-year-olds.
Nevertheless, researchers warn against drawing conclusions too quickly.
Professor of psychology at NTNU, Lars Wichstrøm, tells forskning.no that the study has not yet been peer-reviewed and that the methods are described only in broad terms.
In addition, the results are based on parents’ self-reported information, which may be uncertain.
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Therefore, it cannot be concluded that screen time in itself is the cause of the children’s challenges.
Impact on language
According to the researchers behind the study Children of the 2020s, led by University College London, activities in the home play an important role in children’s language development.
Children whose parents often read books, sing songs, play with letters and numbers, or draw together with them perform best on a vocabulary test.
On average, these children were able to say 74 percent of the words that are common for their age.
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Children with fewer shared activities scored 44 percent. This suggests that time spent together and language stimulation are of great importance.
Screen time and social differences
The study also shows that two-year-olds spend just over two hours a day on average in front of screens, which is more than the WHO’s recommendations.
Screen time is highest in families with lower income, lower levels of education, or caregivers with depressive symptoms.
In the group with the most screen time, 39 percent had behavioral problems, compared with 17 percent among children with the least screen time.
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However, the researchers emphasize that the results show associations only and should be seen as part of a broader assessment when advising families.
Sources: Forskning.no, Children of the 2020s, and WHO.
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