logo
BabySparks
logo
  • What is BabySparks?
  • The Science
  • Childcare Providers
  • Learning Center
  • Get BabySparks
  • en
    • es
Prev
Your child's rapidly developing brain 0
The First Three Years: A Critical Window for Development
11 February 2019
Next
Pros and cons of childcare programs 0
Pros & Cons of Childcare Programs for Babies & Toddlers
13 February 2019
Parenting
Screen Time is Linked to Language Delays
12 February, 2019 by BabySparks in Parenting

Child-development professionals have long suspected that screen time with hand-held electronic devices like smart phones and tablets can negatively affect children’s development. Now, science is beginning to agree.

Last year, the first-ever study to examine a link between screen time and language delays was published and presented at the annual Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting. In the study, involving 894 children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years, researchers recorded amounts of screen time with hand-held devices, administered language delay screenings, and found that every 30-minute increase in daily screen time was linked to a 49% increased risk of an expressive speech delay.

Highlights:

  • Researchers found a link between screen time and expressive language delays in children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. 
  • Expressive language (what we communicate) is one of the three branches of language, along with receptive language (what we understand), and pragmatic language (how we navigate social interaction). 
  • Speech-language pathologists explain that all three branches of language are at risk when there’s a rise in electronic use among babies and toddlers. 
  • Children in front of screens miss out on these critical aspects of language development: 
    • Conversations & Other Human Interactions: Language learning happens when children take in words, vocal intonations, gestures, and facial expressions. 
    • Learning to Filter Information: Children need opportunities to notice what’s happening in their environment, and learn how to choose where to place their attention. 
    • Play: Interacting with three-dimensional toys, engaging in pretend play, and playing with caregivers all support language development. 

Expressive language (what we communicate) is one of three branches of language, along with receptive language (what we understand), and pragmatic/social language (how we navigate social interaction).

We checked in with speech-language pathologists Mandy Alvarez and Melissa Marinelli Izquierdo for their thoughts on screen time and language development.

“In our practice we’ve seen a rise not only in the expressive language delays the study points out, but also in receptive and pragmatic language delays,” Alvarez and Marinelli say. “This has happened alongside a rise in electronics use among children as young as babies and toddlers.”

Although more studies (like the one mentioned above) are needed, Alvarez and Izquierdo explain some of the ways a child may miss out on critical aspects of language development when he’s in front of a screen.

Conversation & Other Human Interaction

The number of words babies and toddlers hear is linked to better language skills, but it’s not just the words that matter. Every time a caregiver talks to a child (even before the child can talk back) language learning is happening on multiple levels: The child is taking in words, vocal intonation, gestures and facial expressions—all the while connecting dots between these things and what they mean. A child gets none of this rich learning when he is using an electronic device.

Learning to Filter Information

An important receptive language task is being able to choose what to pay attention to while filtering out other things. We learn this by being in different environments, noticing what’s going on around us, and choosing where to place our attention. When a child is in front of a screen, the screen dictates where he should place his attention, and the child immediately stops noticing what’s happening around him.

Over time, this can weaken his ability to take in and filter information, as well as switch attention from one task to another. Trouble shifting attention can cause academic problems down the road, like difficulty copying from a board, scanning a room, taking notes, and even reading.

Play

Play provides so many language learning opportunities that it’s hard to elaborate on them all!

When babies are interacting with three-dimensional toys they’re learning tangible language concepts like size, texture, and quantity. Looking at pictures of shapes on a screen doesn’t come close to this.

When a caregiver participates in their play, they learn things like vocabulary, grammar, sequencing, and all of the interaction-based language lessons mentioned above. When toddlers begin pretend play, social language learning is supercharged as they act out real-life scenarios that have sparked their attention. None of this learning occurs during screen time.

It’s important to note, too, that just as there are milestones for movement, there are also milestones for play. Play skills build on each other, and each requires practice. We’ve seen school-aged children who spent a lot of time with screens when they were younger and now lack the age-appropriate play skills to participate in a board game (understanding concepts, switching attention from one thing to the next, taking turns, resolving conflict, managing emotions around losing the game, etc.).

Lastly, giving a baby or toddler an electronic device because they’re bored only sets him up for a broad tendency towards boredom, simply because he is not learning through play how to be creative with his free time.

To learn about the effects of screen time on other areas of development, as well as the American Academy of Pediatric’s recommended screen time limits, head over here.

Mandy Alvarez, M.S., CCC-SLP and Melissa Marinelli Izquierdo, M.S., CCC-SLP are Director and Assistant Director, respectively, of Integrated Children’s Therapy, a Miami-based speech-language and occupational therapy practice with an emphasis on social communication.

0 Comments
  • language skills
  • language
  • new research
  • screentime
  • parenting
2 Like!
Share
BabySparks

Recent comments

    Tags

    baby child cognitive feeding fine motor gross motor health language language skills milestones parenting sensory social-emotional speech toddler
    ABOUT US
    THE TEAM
    TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY
    support@babysparks.com
    FacebookInstagramPinterestTwitter
    Copyright © 2020 BabySparks LLC. All rights reserved
    logo
    X
    GET BABYSPARKS
    Step 2 of 2
    ACTIVITY PACKAGE:
    (All Prices in USD)

    Form of Payment

    Monthly: $1.25 per month/per child
    Annually: $12.00 per year/per child (20% discount)

    Form of Payment

    Monthly: $2.25 per month/per child
    Annually: $21.50 per year/per child (20% discount)

    Form of Payment

    Monthly: $5.00 per month/per child
    Annually: $45.00 per year/per child (25% discount)

    Number of children:

    x per child

    Total Amount

    SELECT YOUR METHOD OF PAYMENT
    * Required field
    Buy now BS

    BabySparks Premium Gives You…

    Access to 1,300+ development activities & milestones

    An expert-created program to support the development of children under your care

    Tools to increase family engagement, invite each family to use the program at home

    Ability to track each child's progress in real-time (and share it with his/her family)

    Add unlimited children, caregivers and locations to your account

    Manage and track progress across your organization through our desktop dashboard

    Cancel your subscription at any time

    By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.
    X
    EDIT YOUR ACCOUNT
    Your account
    Change your password
    X
    EDIT YOUR METHOD OF PAYMENT
    Update payment method
    * Required field
    Buy now BS
    By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.
    X
    UPDATE YOUR PACKAGE
    Your Activity Package
    (All Prices in USD)

    1 Month

    $ 3 99

    per month

    1 Year

    $ 23 99

    per year

    Update your package at any time
    (All Prices in USD)
    Pay as you go

    1 Month

    $ 3 99

    per month

    50% Discount

    1 Year

    $ 23 99

    per year

    60% Discount

    Lifetime

    $ 39 99

    one time

    How does it work?

    You can change your activity package at any time.

    The change will take place at the end of your current subscription period.

    You will only be charged the new rate once the change takes place.

    Cancel Activity Package
    X
    LOGIN BABYSPARKS

    Forgot your password?

    X
    PASSWORD RESET
    X
    RESET PASSWORD
    X
    GET BABYSPARKS
    Step 1 of 2
    Create Your Account

    Already Have an Account? Login

    X
    GET BABYSPARKS
    Step 1 of 2
    Create Your Account

    Already Have an Account? Login

    X
    GET BABYSPARKS
    Step 2 of 2
    Logged in as: (Not me)
    Select Your Activity Package
    (All Prices in USD)
    Pay as you go

    1 Month

    $ 3 99

    per month

    YOUR OFFER

    $ 2 99

    50% Discount

    1 Year

    $ 1 99

    per month

    Paid Annually: $23.99
    YOUR OFFER

    $ 2 99

    60% Discount

    Lifetime

    $ 39 99

    one time

    YOUR OFFER

    $ 2 99

    BabySparks Premium Gives You…

    Access to 1,300+ development activities & milestones

    An expert-created program to support your child’s development

    Weekly development reports summarize progress

    Browse activities for any situation

    Expert-written articles about development

    Sync up to 5 devices (add family and caregivers)

    Add up to 5 babies to your account

    Cancel your susbcription at any time

    * Required field
    Buy now BS
    By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.