From colourful TVs to talking toys, digital technology is ubiquitous in the lives of children and parents. While we know that growing up in a digital environment has an influence on infant development, our picture of its precise impact remains blurry.
A whirlwind of varied research, media coverage and opinions leaves parents wondering (or fretting) about the best approach to screen time for children. Questions from “Should parents limit screen time for kids?” to “Is screen time bad for kids?” are searched thousands of times per year (in fact, over 11,000 times annually in the US alone). But what does the latest research in the space have to say?
In the latest episode of Curtin University’s podcast, The Future Of, we speak to Doctor Amber Beynon, a research fellow at Curtin’s School of Allied Health, whose recent study challenges negative views on the impact of infant screen time.
In our chat, we discussed Amber’s impactful research into all the factors influencing infant development – including screen time and broader family factors – and explored how parents can navigate our increasingly technological world. Here’s a snippet of the conversation.
Amber, firstly, can you tell us why this research is important? Why do we need a better understanding of screen time’s impact on child development?
“Infancy is a critical period of development in many ways, including physical, emotional and cognitive development. This period lays the foundation for lifelong learning, behaviour and health.
“Technology is constantly evolving, and I know many parents, educators and policymakers are asking questions about how these new technologies play a role in children’s lives at a young age. They’re wondering if screen time is bad for child development.
“Technology isn’t going anywhere. We really need to teach children how to use screens well to minimise risk and help them benefit from now into the future. We also need to move beyond a one-size-fits-all recommendation.”
Amber, why is it so hard to answer the question on every parent’s mind, ‘Is screen time bad for kids’?
“Some studies show that excessive screen use is associated with communication, motor skills and social development delays. However, other research says screens are associated with better language and executive function.
“Because there’s a lot of mixed research out there, we can’t just say, ‘screens are bad for kids’ – it’s much more complex than that.
“What we really need to think about – and where there’s a gap in existing research – is how screen use fits into the broader family environment. We need to take a bigger-picture approach instead of just fixating on screen time alone – this is what our recent research aims to do.”
Amber, how common is exposure to screens at an infant level?
“Screens are a part of everyday life, and we know that so many children engage with screens and use them at a younger age than previous generations.
“Our research from the ORIGINS Project – a large cohort in Western Australia – showed that, on average, infants up to 12 months of age watch TV 30 minutes per day and use mobile touchscreen devices – tablets and phones – five minutes per day.”
Your research explores the impact of screens and broader family factors on infant development. Can your findings tell us if screens are bad for child development and what other factors might be at play?
“One of our key findings is that not all screens are inherently bad. What matters more than screen time alone is the context they’re used in.
“When we researched the role of screens on infant development, we found some associations between screen use and poorer infant development. But what we found more consistently was that poorer parental mental health – such as increased depression and anxiety in mothers and fathers – was more consistently linked to poor child developmental outcomes.
“If we want to improve child development outcomes, supporting parental mental health may be just as, if not more important, than reducing screen time. It’s not nearly as simple as labelling screens as bad for kids or calling out parents to cut screen time altogether. Instead, we need to support the family as a whole.”
So, screen time isn’t all bad. But why? And how can our kids use screens in a beneficial way?
“Rather than parents pushing to cut out screens entirely, we should consider the healthy use of screens – which might benefit both child development and parental mental health at the same time.
“When discussing screen time, we need to think about the child’s overall development and the other factors in their routine. Are they also engaging in active play, reading books and spending time outside?
“Consider what screens are being used and how. Are they just passively watching an iPad or using an interactive app?
“Take into account the role of other people when screens are being used. Are screens replacing valuable social interactions, or are they used alongside carers?
“We need to zoom out and analyse what’s happening in the broader family environment. Can infant screen use support parents and carers?
“It’s important to remember that technology is just one element of a much bigger picture.”
Amber, can we talk a bit about scaffolding and how we can use scaffolding to teach children safe ways to interact with technology?
“Scaffolding is when a parent, teacher or other adult supports a child to learn a skill. Initially, the adult provides a lot of guidance, but as the child gains confidence and ability, the support is gradually reduced until the child can independently perform the skill.
“It’s like how you might teach a child to ride a bike. At first, you might hold onto the bike and provide support. As they learn to balance and build confidence, you will let go so the child can ride their bike independently.
“Scaffolding is essential in all areas of child development, including technology use.
“If parents can be supportive and engaged with children’s technology use in the early years, they can help them learn the safe use of technology. As they grow up and become independent technology users, they’ll have the skills to use screens and devices safely and beneficially.”
Amber, you talk about technology evolving and changing. We’re in the throes of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution. What does that mean for child development?
“AI is shaping how children engage and interact with technology. From personalised learning apps to interactive toys, many young children use AI.
“The learning capacity of these AI technologies is at the next level – it’s incredible how it can personalise interactions from one child to another and remember interactions. It’s a little bit scary, but it can benefit child development.
“I think AI has incredible potential, but we must be cautious using a technology that’s so powerful. We need rigorous research to understand the impact of AI on child development.”
Ready to know more? Listen to the full episode, The Future Of Screen Time and Child Development, to understand Amber’s research and hear her advice to parents on childhood screen use.
