Skip to main content

Screen Time May Slow Learning Skills, Study Finds

By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on July 6, 2025.

via HealthDay

SATURDAY, July 5, 2025 — Screens are a part of daily life for many families — but too much screen time in the early years could slow a child’s language development, a new study suggests.

That’s because young children learn best when they can touch, explore and play with real objects, Sarah Kucker, a psychologist at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, said.

"When learning a new word like 'banana,' for instance, it is important that a child can feel its texture and see it from all angles to see that it's 3D and has a distinct smell," she explained. “Just seeing a picture of a banana or a quick cartoon video of them doesn't give the same information.”

In other words, watching something on a screen isn’t the same as real-world play.

Kucker recommends keeping screen time low, especially during the first few years of life. That’s when kiddos are forming meaningful brain and language connections that are best built through hands-on experiences.

But not all screen time is bad. In fact, some digital media can support learning, especially when it’s social.

Kucker offered four simple tips to help parents make screen time more effective:

  1. Ask why you’re using the screen. If the goal is just to keep a child calm or distracted, consider other tools like deep breathing or giving them a squishy toy.

  2. Use screens socially. Video chatting with family members like Grandma helps kids learn back-and-forth conversations. Two-person games like puzzles also help children talk, listen and learn.

  3. Pick interactive media. If the app or video lets your child just sit and watch, they may not learn much. Look for media that asks questions or connects to your child to the world around them.

  4. Balance screen time with real conversation. Make sure your child still hears lots of words from real people. Even simple actions — like narrating while you cook or clean — can support their growth.

Sources

  • Southern Methodist University, news release, June 30, 2025

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted July 2025

Read this next

Want More Exercise? Go To Bed Earlier, Study Suggests

THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 — The age-old “early to bed, early to rise” proverb applies to your daily exercise regimen as well as your health, wealth and wisdom, a...

Teen Drivers Spend A Fifth Of The Time Looking At Their Smartphone, Study Says

THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 — About a fifth of the time, a teenage driver is looking at their smartphone rather than the road or their rearview, a new study says. Teen drivers...

Could Dairy Be Causing Your Bad Dreams?

WEDNESDAY, July 2, 2025 — Having bad dreams after eating ice cream or cheese? Your stomach may be trying to tell you something. New research shows that people with worse...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.