A recent study by researchers at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand has revealed that just 90 minutes of screen time per day can significantly affect children’s language skills and increase the risk of behavioural problems. The research tracked over 6,000 children aged two to eight, aiming to explore the impact of daily screen use beyond the recommended one-hour limit.
According to the study, children who spent more than 1.5 hours in front of screens showed weaker educational outcomes, regardless of the activity they were engaging in. These children exhibited lower vocabulary, communication, writing, and numeracy skills compared to their peers. They were also more likely to play alone and struggled with social interactions.
In contrast, children who limited screen time to less than an hour per day demonstrated better language skills, stronger social connections, and generally performed better in school.
The findings suggest that excessive screen time could contribute to academic struggles, with children who exceeded 2.5 hours of screen time each day facing even more significant developmental setbacks. The study indicated that children with too much screen exposure were more likely to be in the lower third of their class academically, a trend that educators have been observing in recent years.
The study highlights that early screen exposure may be a contributing factor to declining school readiness, particularly in terms of language and social skills. Teachers have reported an increasing number of children entering school at age five with below-average language abilities, which the researchers attribute to excessive screen use during early childhood.
While the health risks of sedentary behaviour associated with screen time, such as obesity and frequent illness, are well-known, the impact on educational development is considered more concerning by experts. Researchers believe that the rise in screen time in recent years may be partly responsible for the observed decline in children’s preparedness for school.
This study adds to a growing body of research that raises concerns about screen time and child development. A 2024 study from Australia found that two-year-olds with significant screen exposure were more likely to show autism-like symptoms by the age of 12. However, this study was observational and did not establish a causal link.
Global health guidelines recommend that children under two years old should have no screen time at all, while those aged two to five should be limited to no more than one hour per day. Despite these recommendations, official guidelines in the UK, including those from the NHS and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), do not provide specific advice for screen time in babies and toddlers, though NICE suggests an upper limit of two hours per day for all children.
Experts continue to advise caution in managing screen time for young children, urging a balanced approach to screen use to support healthy development.
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