A study published by Florida Atlantic University and Aarhus University on Apr. 6 found that unsupervised, solitary screen time in early childhood can increase the risk of social and emotional problems for children who already have language difficulties.
The research is significant because it suggests that even small amounts of solo screen use—between 10 to 30 minutes per day—may make it more likely that preschool- and kindergarten-aged children with poor communication skills will develop adjustment problems over time.
The study involved 546 four- and five-year-old children from Denmark. Teachers assessed the children's adjustment issues twice during a school year, while parents reported how much time their children spent alone with screens such as handheld devices or television. The researchers found that both poor communication skills and higher levels of solitary screen use separately predicted increases in emotional challenges over six months. Notably, the negative effects were strongest among those exposed to above-average amounts of solo screen time.
Laursen, one of the authors, explained these findings using an economics model: "The opportunity costs of solitary screen time can be particularly steep for vulnerable youth. Children have a finite number of free time hours in a day," Laursen said. "Every hour a child spends alone with a device is an hour they aren't engaged in social interactions that boost language skills. It is an hour not spent practicing the social and emotional skills required to build friendships. Screens don't demand compromise, sharing or dialogue – the exact skills that children with communication difficulties need to practice."
Lead author Molly Selover said, "Young children with limited language skills are already at risk for social and emotional challenges... There is little reason to expect that screens help children overcome the adaptive challenges posed by oral language problems and many reasons to suspect that they make matters worse." Selover also pointed out: "Electronic media is as an integral component of the home learning environment; many children spend more time with tablets and phones than with toys, books and friends... Like other home environment risks, solitary screen time poses a unique peril to young children with heightened vulnerabilities... But for preschool children with language vulnerabilities, unsupervised screen time is not benign – it can be an active barrier to well-being."
Current guidelines from organizations like the World Health Organization recommend no more than one hour per day of screen use for young children aged two to five years old; however, most households exceed this limit globally.
Selover concluded: "The findings matter because they show that an all-too-common environmental risk – elevated solitary screen time – can worsen behavioral and conduct challenges for children who face an already difficult developmental path."
