Recent Canadian Study Warns of Negative Impact of Excessive Screen Time on Early Academic Performance
A recent Canadian study has warned that excessive screen time among children could have a negative impact on their early academic performance, particularly in reading and mathematics.
Key Findings
The study, published in the JAMA Network Open journal, found that children who spend longer periods watching television or using digital devices tend to perform poorly in tests compared to their peers.
Methodology
For this study, researchers tracked a group of over three thousand children from the province of Ontario, Canada, between 2008 and 2023. They established a link between the data provided by parents on the time children spent in front of screens and the results of standardized school tests taken by their children.
Focus on Screen Time Activities
The researchers focused on various screen time activities, including video games, television viewing, and time spent on digital devices such as phones and tablets.
Expert Insights
Catherine Birken, a researcher at the SickKids Research Institute in Toronto and co-author of the study, stated that these findings highlight the importance of developing early interventions for young children and their families to promote healthy digital habits. She emphasized that excessive screen time could affect children's learning and concentration abilities.
WHO Recommendations
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children aged two to four years should not exceed one hour of screen time per day, with a total abstinence for infants under one year.
