Many parents with infants and toddlers fear that screen time is damaging their brains. However, through active engagement, screens can actually be beneficial to early learning.

1. Early engagement with mobile technology
T O T S & TA B L E T S
by: Robin SchneiderPhoto: mbeo via Flickr

2. Many parents with infants and toddlers fear that
screen time is damaging their brains.
However, through active engagement, screens
can actually be beneficial to early learning.
Photo: Gustavo Devito via Flickr

3. of children
under the
age of 2
have used
mobile
devices
Photo: Rafiq Sarlie via Flickr
Source: Common sense media survey 1.5k parents with kids under 8
38%

4. On average, parents with iPads download
8 APPS specifically for their children
Source: PBS Survey
Photo: Rena Tom via Flickr

5. Mobile technologies
can work as a
DIGITAL PACIFIER,
keeping kids occupied
and quiet when need be
Source: Common Sense Media
Photo: Amanda Tipton via Flickr

6. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends that children under 2 should have
NO SCREEN TIME AT ALL
Photo: Nick Olejniczak via Flickr

7. Our understanding of the impact of mobile
devices on the pre-school brain has been
outpaced by how much children
are already using them
Source: Joanna Walters, The GuardianPhoto: Steve Paine via Flickr

8. Some studies have
shown that children
who read enhanced
e-books recalled
significantly fewer
details than children
who read the print
version of the
same story.
Photo: Aaron Muderick via Flickr
Source: Joan Ganz Cooney Center

9. and that using a tablet or smartphone to divert a
child’s attention could be detrimental to their
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Photo: Lucélia Ribeiro via Flickr
Source: Boston University Medical Center

10. However, keeping kids away from screens completely for
the first few years of their life will “set pretty unrealistic
expectations about their exposure to technology.”
- Michael Levine, executive director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center
Source: Ben Popper, The Verge Photo: Arne Kuilman via Flickr

11. “Screens are purely a delivery
mechanism. What parents should
be focused on is the content.”
- Dimitri Cheristakis,
Source: Ben Popper, The Verge
Photo: Brad Flickinger via Flickr
Director of the Centre for Child
Health,Seattle Children’s Hospital

12. Although there is a minority who consider
screens not to be healthy, there is no
evidence to suggest they are detrimental
Source: BBC News Photo: Flickeringbrad via Flickr

13. ACTIVE vs. PASSIVE
whatmattersis:
Photo: Brad Flickinger via Flickr Source: Ben Popper, The Verge
CONSUMPTION

14. Kids who engage in active play scored significantly
better on subsequent language acquisition tests
than those involved in passive consumption (ie. TV).
Source: Ben Popper, The Verge
Photo: Flickeringbrad via Flickr

15. “Kids who are
interacting with the
screen get better
much faster, make
fewer mistakes
and learn faster.”
- Heather Kirkorian,
University of Wisconsin
Source: BBC News
Photo: Petras Gagilas via Flickr

16. ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT
WITH SCREENS
CAN IMPROVE:
hand-eye coordination
cognitive development
language skills
social interaction skills
visual attention capacity
dynamic spacial skills
problem solving skills
Source: Penelope Sweester et al.,
Queensland University of Technology
Photo: Toca Boca via Flickr

17. Rather than making arbitrary limits on screen
time, parents should make sure kids’
experience with technology is shared.
Photo: ajburnett9 via Flickr

18. “Ifyou’rethereto
guidethem,today’s
interactivedevices
canbeagreatwayto
learnandtobond.”
- Michael Levine
Photo: Honza Soukup via Flickr
Source: Ben Popper, The Verge

19. Active engagement with mobile technology
can be beneficial to early childhood learning
by advancing cognitive development and
serving as a bonding tool for infants and parents.
Photo: Toca Boca via Flickr

20. S O U R C E S
Sweester, Penelope, Daniel Johnson, Anne Ozdowska, and Peta Wyeth. “Active versus Passive
Screen Time for Young Child.” Queensland University of Technology. 29 July 2013
Roxby, Philippa. “Does technology help or hinder toddlers’ learning?” BBC News. BBC.com.
19 April 2013
Common Sense Media: Survey 1.5k parents with kids under 8 (via Matrix, Sidneyeve.
Module 3: Mobilities Lecture Video. 16 May 2016.)
PBS Survey (via Matrix, Sidneyeve. Module 3: Mobilities Lecture Video. 16 May 2016.)
American Academy of Pediatrics “Media and Children” (via Matrix, Sidneyeve. Module 3:
Mobilities Lecture Video. 16 May 2016.)
Common Sense Media (via Matrix, Sidneyeve. Module 3: Mobilities Lecture Video. 16 May 2016.)
The Joan Gans Cooney Centre “Print Books vs. E-Books” (via Matrix, Sidneyeve. Module 1: Digital
Literacies Lecture Video. 3 May 2016.)
Boston University Medical Center, “Mobile and interactive media use by young children: The
good, the bad and the unknown” Public Release. 30 January 2015.
Walters, Joanna, “Tablets and smartphones may affect social and emotional development,
scientists speculate” The Guardian. TheGuardian.com 2 February 2015
Popper, Ben “Is Technology Scrambling My Baby’s Brain”” The verge. TheVerge.com.
3 September 2013