Traditional play should be at least 15 minutes
Children who spend less than an hour staring at the screen of electronic devices such as mobile phones, PCs, and TVs, that is, screen time, have a much better brain development than their peers who spend more time than their peers. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) found that two-year-olds who limit screen time to 60 minutes a day and engage in traditional play activities of 15 minutes per day perform better than their peers who spend more screen time than their peers. found that
They also scored high on memory, concentration, decision-making and multitasking skills. The research team explained, “When you play outside or play with traditional toys, your brain overflows with blood, which increases blood vessels and strengthens nerve cell (neuron) connections, making cognitive development easier.”
On the other hand, looking into electronics doesn’t stimulate the brain and is known to thin the cerebral cortex, which drives critical thinking and reasoning. The average screen time per day for children in the US is 2 hours 30 minutes, compared to 3 hours in the UK. As homeschooling became more common due to the COVID-19 pandemic, screen time increased significantly.
The research team conducted a study on 356 children in the United States. Through parents, the children’s daily physical activity status, screen time, and diet were investigated. They also assessed memory, ability to plan and organize thoughts, manage emotional responses, refrain from impulsive behavior, and divide tasks.
The study found that children who had screen time for less than an hour a day had better ability to memorize information, control impulses, and overall executive function. Children who were physically more active for at least 15 minutes a day also scored higher on memory tests.
“Infancy is a sensitive period for cognitive development and rapid brain growth, and factors such as food, exercise and screen time play an important role,” said Professor Niman Kahn (Department of Physical Epidemiology and Community Health) of the research team. “The effect of doing something on cognitive abilities appears to be evident in early childhood, especially in behaviors related to physical activity and sedentary time.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines recommend less than one hour of screen time per day for children between the ages of two and five. The results of this study (Adherence to screen time and physical activity guidelines is associated with executive function in US toddlers participating in the STRONG Kids 2 birth cohort study) were published in the medical journal ‘The Journal of Pediatrics’.