Screen time at ages 1 and 6 may matter more than parents realize
A longitudinal study of children from infancy to age nine suggests that high screen time during early development is linked to lower academic performance and weaker working memory. The findings indicate that the timing of exposure may be as critical as the total duration of screen use.
Why it matters
This research provides evidence-based guidance for parents and health organizations to better manage digital habits during sensitive developmental windows.
Screens are now a routine part of life for many young children, raising growing questions about how early exposure could influence development over time. New longitudinal research that tracked children from age 1 through age 8 found that greater screen viewing, especially during infancy and around the time children begin school, was associated with lower academic performance at age 9 and weaker working memory at age 10.5. The results suggest that when children are exposed to screens could matter just as much as how much time they spend using them.
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