Is Screen Time Bad for Your Child?
By: Mary Gallagher
Tags: Books, Reading, Literacy, Parenting, Digital Health

It’s no secret that there is a lot competing for your child’s attention these days. It used to be all we had to do was turn off the television and video games to get some reading time in, but now there is a computer attached to our hands and within easy reach and influence of your child, too.

I’ve never been one to be super strict about turning off all technology, but I will say that with all the distractions competing for your child’s time and mind, you will have to diligent and purposeful about making time for reading.

That being said, let’s talk about digital devices for reading or reading practice, the pros and cons and when other resources besides the print book can be useful for reading instruction or practice.

A print book is always going to be the best choice for young children

There is an interesting study that talks about how different forms of reading and media impact a child’s brain. Here is the link; I encourage you to read it because it’s important. What’s Going on in Your Child’s Brain When You Read Them a Story?

I’m going to summarize and emphasize a few things for you here.

It’s sort of like the Goldilocks story.

Audible only: If a child is only hearing a story like via a CD or audible book, it’s too cold. In other words, some parts of the brain area activated but without pictures, the child is straining harder to understand the story.

Video and Animation: This was too hot. In other words, too much visual and auditory stimulation does not allow children time to reflect on what they are hearing, resulting in less comprehension as well.

Books: What was the just-right combination? You guessed it! Listening to a storybook while seeing the pictures. You reading with and to your child.

When we read to our children, they are doing more work than meets the eye. “It’s that muscle they’re developing bringing the images to life in their minds.” Hutton’s concern is that in the longer term, “kids who are exposed to too much animation are going to be at risk for developing not enough integration.” Overwhelmed by the demands of processing language, without enough practice, they may also be less skilled at forming mental pictures based on what they read, much less reflecting on the content of a story. This is the stereotype of a “reluctant reader” whose brain is not well-versed in getting the most out of a book. — from What’s Going on in Your Child’s Brain When You Read Them a Story?

This study was done with MRI imaging of the brain while children (ages 3–5) were exposed to different stimuli.

What this tells us is that reading books to your child is still the best thing you can do to support brain development that will give them the skills they need to be strong readers.

This doesn’t mean that animated video and listening to stories are bad, just limit these for young children.

Audio Books

These are still a great option for when sitting with a book on your lap is not possible. Think of all the many places and opportunities you have to use audible books.

driving in the car — both everyday errands or long road trips. (of course, keep a bag of books in the car too)

while taking a bath or doing chores

as a follow up to a book you’ve read together — especially if children loved the book, they’ll want to be reunited with their favorite characters.

Other ways to use audibooks

Audiobooks can support reluctant or struggling readers or those with a reading disability. Sometimes hearing the story first and then reading the book is helpful. It builds background knowledge and familiarizes them with new vocabulary words or difficult names etc. A dyslexic child might find it helpful to listen to the audiobook while following along with the words on the page.

Movies from books. By all means, check these out. I like to read the book first, then watch the movie only because 9/10 times the book is better, but there are some wonderful movies that have been made from children’s books and are certainly worthy of seeing.

Some of my favorites

Because of Winn-Dixie

Stuart Little

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Some movies or television shows your child may have seen already, have books that are less known because the movie or television show is a classic. These books are worth reading!

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

The Wizard of Oz

Mary Poppins

Arthur

Little Bear

After you read the book and watch the movie, you can complete a Venn diagram and compare and contrast the movie and the book. Comparing and contrasting is considered the best comprehension strategy for children to learn according to Marzano’s high-yield instructional strategies. In other words,

children who can find similarities and differences own a valuable skill that will translate to other learning in other areas.

More on how technology impacts a child’s brain vs reading

Technology conditions the brain to pay attention to information very differently than reading. The metaphor that Nicholas Carr uses is the difference between scuba diving and jet skiing. Book reading is like scuba diving in which the diver is submerged in a quiet, visually restricted, slow-paced setting with few distractions and, as a result, is required to focus narrowly and think deeply on the limited information that is available to them. In contrast, using the Internet is like jet skiing, in which the jet skier is skimming along the surface of the water at high speed, exposed to a broad vista, surrounded by many distractions, and only able to focus fleetingly on any one thing. — from How Technology is Changing the Way Children Think and Focus

Using apps and online reading programs

It’s important to use discretion when using online reading programs or apps for reading/phonics practice. There are some good ones, some okay ones, and some awful ones.

The main thing to remember is that no reading program or animated phonics practice can replace what you do with your child using real children’s books and targeted practice aimed at their needs and strengths.

Use these programs as you would use salt in your meals, for some added flavor but don’t count on them for much nutrition. And most importantly, don’t spend a lot of money on them!

Here are some that I would recommend (this is not at all-inclusive but pertains to my personal experience and knowledge of the tool)

Starfall

Headsprout

Kizphonics

Reading Eggs

A final note on technology in all forms

Nothing is all bad or all good. Use a lot of caution with children under the age of six whose brains are still acquiring the ability to pay attention and sustain attention and persevere at a task. Reading stamina is needed in order to become a strong reader. A child’s brain that has been programmed with fast action and snippets may not be able to sustain in order to read with accuracy and comprehension.

Use all technology sparingly, be a good role model with technology, and err on the side of caution.

New research is coming in every day on the effect of digital devices on kids, so keep reading about the updates and make wise choices as you invest in your child as a lifelong reader.

Additional reading:

Will Technology Ruin Your Children’s Development?

5 Negative Impacts of Technology on Children

Screen Time Can be Dangerous

Take some time to look through the articles and research here and think about how much you want your child to be exposed to technology and what you can do to eliminate some of that if it’s too much, or safeguards you can put in place to monitor over-exposure.

Watch my interview with Madlin (join our Facebook group to see it) about screen time vs. books and find more resources from Unplugged Family.

Until later — read, read more, read more often! — Mary