Study shows screen time is replacing vital language opportunities for toddlers
A first-of-its kind study has found that for every minute of screen time toddlers are exposed to at home, they hear fewer adult words, make fewer vocalisations and engage in fewer back-and-forth conversations with their parents.
The research, led by Telethon Kids Institute Senior Research Officer and the University of Adelaide's Dr Mary Brushe, saw researchers track 220 Australian families over a two-and-a-half-year period to measure the relationship between family screen use and children’s language environment.
The study – part of Dr Brushe’s PhD with the University of Adelaide – saw researchers use Fitbit-like devices to measure the amount of electronic noise and parent-child talk surrounding children aged between 12 and 36 months. This included noise generated by screens viewed by the parent and/or child.