
A new study has revealed that too much screen time in the early years could impact the learning abilities of the children.
According to HealthDay, the research suggested that excessive screen time in the early years could slow down language development of the children.
Sarah Kucker, a psychologist at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, explained that screen time impacts language development and learning because children learn best when they explore, experience, and play with real objects.
She said, “When learning a new word like 'banana,' for instance, it is important that a child can feel its texture and see it from all angles to see that it's 3D and has a distinct smell. Just seeing a picture of a banana or a quick cartoon video of them doesn't give the same information.”
The psychologist suggested that limiting screen time, especially in the first few years, is important because this is the time when meaningful brain and language connections are formed.
Easy tips to make screen time effective:
Kucker asserted that to make screen time more effective for kids, parents should try to distract kids with other activities or a squishy toy.
Try to use screens for socialising, like video chatting with grandparents or other family members, as it helps kids in learning back-and-forth conversations.
Most importantly, parents should balance screen time with real conversation and could interact with them while doing home chores.