Pediatricians have for decades advised concerned parents to use screen time wisely, especially for young children. A comprehensive research review appeared in the July 2020 issue of JAMA Pediatrics. Researchers from the University of Calgary Alberta, Canada, and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute analyzed 42 of the best studies totaling nearly 20,000 kids under twelve years of age.

Main Conclusions from the Research

1. The quality of screen time is more significant than the quantity.

2. "Co-viewing" and "education screen time" is best. This means when kids interact with parents, teachers, or friends during screen viewing, these partnerships were usually associated with better language skills in the screen viewers.

3. Low-quality screen time was associated with lower language skills, especially in younger children.

These findings were consistent with the current American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines of "no screen time under the age of 18 months."

Additional Concerns to Consider

1. More Screen Time Equals Less Movement

Excessive screen time means excessive sitting time, just the opposite of what growing children need. Kids are meant to move. Movement increases blood flow to the body and brain when the body and brain are growing the fastest. Better blood flow means a better body and brain — it's as logical as that.

2. Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Research from the University of Texas shows that just having your phone on the desk or within sight while you're working is a distraction, mainly because you're subconsciously thinking about things that could be going on in your phone messages rather than focusing on the task you are working on. The take-home message: when really trying to learn, especially for school-age children, put their screens in another room and turn them off.