Increased Screen Time: Implications for Early Childhood Development and Behavior

Jenny S Radesky; Dimitri A Christakis

doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2016.06.006

Increased Screen Time: Implications for Early Childhood Development and Behavior

Pediatr Clin North Am. 2016 Oct;63(5):827-39. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2016.06.006.

Authors

Jenny S Radesky¹, Dimitri A Christakis²

Affiliations

¹ University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, 300 North Ingalls Street, Suite 1107, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA. Electronic address: jradesky@umich.edu.
² CW8-6 Child Health, Behavior and Development, 2001 Eighth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.

PMID: 27565361
DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2016.06.006

Abstract

The authors review trends in adoption of new digital technologies (eg, mobile and interactive media) by families with young children (ages 0-8 years), continued use of television and video games, and the evidence for learning from digital versus hands-on play. The authors also discuss continued concerns about health and developmental/behavioral risks of excessive media use for child cognitive, language, literacy, and social-emotional development. This evidence is then applied to clinical care in terms of the screening questions providers can use, tools available to providers and parents, and changes in anticipatory guidance.

Keywords: Child behavior; Child development; Child play; Digital media; Mobile device; Screen time; Television.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Child
Child Behavior / psychology*
Child Development*
Child, Preschool
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Leisure Activities / psychology*
Personality Development*
Social Behavior
Social Media / statistics & numerical data
Television / statistics & numerical data
Video Games