A new research has studied the impact of passive screen use on the cognitive development of a young child, and the results revealed that screen exposure, whether from a TV or a mobile device, might be beneficial depending on the context in which it’s viewed. The study was published in Frontiers in Psychology.
Researchers from the University of Portsmouth and Paris Nanterre University, France, analysed 478 studies published in the past two decades. Their findings found exposure to television early on may be detrimental to play, language development and executive functioning, particularly for young infants.
Dr. Eszter Somogyi from the Department of Psychology at the University of Portsmouth said, "We're used to hearing that screen exposure is bad for a child and can do serious damage to their development if it's not limited to say less than an hour a day. While it can be harmful, our study suggests the focus should be on the quality or context of what a child is watching, not the quantity. Weak narrative, fast pace editing, and complex stimuli can make it difficult for a child to extract or generalise information. But when screen content is appropriate for a child's age, it's likely to have a positive effect, particularly when it's designed to encourage interaction.”
They explained, “Families differ a lot in their attitudes toward and the use of media. These differences in the viewing context play an important role in determining the strength and nature of TV’s impact on children’s cognitive development. Watching television with your child and elaborating and commenting on what is viewed can help enhance their understanding of the context, reinforcing their learning during educational programs.”
“Coviewing can also contribute to the development of their conversation skills and provides children with a role model for appropriate television viewing behaviour.”
Dr. Bahia Guellai, from the Department of Psychology at Paris Nanterre University, added, "The important 'take home message' here is that caregivers should keep in mind new technologies. Television or smartphones should be used as potential tools to compliment some social interactions with young children but not to replace them.
"I think the most important challenge of our societies for future generations is to make adults and young people aware of the risk of an unconsidered or inappropriate use of screen-use. This will help in preventing situations in which screens are used as the new type of child-minding, as it has been during the pandemic lockdowns in different countries. I am optimistic with the concept of finding an equilibrium between the rapid spread of new technological tools and the preservation of the beautiful nature of human relationships.”
