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With smartphones, tablets, and laptops in hand, children have unprecedented access to the digital world. However, a recent study suggests that spending too much time in front of screens could hinder their cognitive growth, according to a report from Science News.
In a study featured in Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, experts analyzed data from the decade-long Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study. Their focus was on the daily habits of 4524 American children, ages 8 to 11, over the course of one year, from September 1, 2016, to September 15, 2017. The research team assessed how well the children followed guidelines regarding physical activity, recreational screen time, and sleep patterns.
The study revealed that children who spent more than two hours daily on screens scored lower on memory, language, and other cognitive assessments than those who stayed under the two-hour mark. The average screen time for participants was 3.6 hours per day, and those who kept their usage below the two-hour limit showed 4 percent better performance on thinking tests than their screen-heavy counterparts.
This study was part of a broader investigation into the potential impacts of following the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth. These guidelines suggest that children aged 5 to 13 should get an hour of exercise daily, limit screen time to less than two hours, and sleep between nine to eleven hours. Only 5 percent of participants met all three recommendations, while 71 percent adhered to at least one. The findings highlight the concern that insufficient sleep, low physical activity, and excessive screen time may be too prevalent, affecting children's overall health.
Researchers noted that the study only reflects data from a specific period and doesn't establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between screen time and cognitive decline (it’s possible that more intelligent children may simply choose to spend less time on screens). Additionally, the research did not address whether engaging with educational content had a different impact compared to entertainment. Nevertheless, the study offers convincing evidence that reducing screen time and increasing physical activity could be beneficial for children.
