The effects of screen time on young children may depend on more than just how long they spend in front of a device, according to a new publication from the University of Georgia.
What children watch, how old they are and whether a parent watches with them can all shape the experience, the review of 30 studies found. Led by UGA researcher Minal Manisha , the paper points to co-viewing — parents watching and talking about media with their children — as one way to help young viewers make sense of what they see.
A common belief, especially among parents, is that all screen time is bad, but the researchers found that it wasn't that simple.
Some shows appeared to have a positive impact. For example, programs such as "Daniel Tiger" supported social skills, while "Sesame Street," "Between the Lions" and "SuperWhy!" were linked with stronger letter and sound recognition among some preschoolers.
"If they are watching prosocial content, they will have values like empathy or compassion," Manisha said. "If children are watching violent content, they may exhibit physical aggression."
Heavy screen use may come at expense of physical activity, reading
How much time children spend with screens matters, too. Heavy use can push out other activities like reading, outdoor play and time with family. Evening media use was also linked with sleep problems, the review found.
Very young children learn heavily through play, exploration and face-to-face interaction. Among infants and toddlers, the review linked heavier screen use with poorer language development, smaller vocabularies and other learning concerns.
So what works for a 5-year-old may not work for a toddler. Younger children need more help understanding what they see while older preschoolers may be better able to learn from programs designed for their age group.
Previous research suggests children in lower-income households often spend more time with media, likely due to work schedules, childcare or lack thereof, access to recreation and other pressures. The review focused on children from low-income families for this reason.
Watch programs with your child and answer questions about content
That challenge looks different today than it did in much of the research Manisha reviewed, which focused heavily on television. Modern devices are portable, personalized and often shaped by algorithms, allowing children to move from room to room with an endless stream of recommended content.
That is where watching together can help.
Co-viewing does not mean turning every cartoon into a lesson. It can be as simple as watching programs together, answering questions or talking afterward about what a child saw, the researchers said.
"We need to be aware of what our children are actually watching," Manisha said. "It's a big thing to be able to talk to them about the content they are absorbing."
We need to be aware of what our children are actually watching … (and) the content they are absorbing.
Minal Manisha, Office of Research
The goal is not necessarily to remove media from children's lives altogether but to help them build healthier habits around it.
Still, Manisha cautions against one-size-fits-all rules. Families have different schedules, resources and needs, which can all shape how realistic certain screen-time limits are.
And those recommendations may keep changing as technology does.
"It's an evolving landscape," Manisha said.
The study, co-authored by Minal Manisha and William Schneider, was published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work.
