A 15-year study has shown that children who spend extended time in front of electronic screens are at a higher risk of failing to achieve their academic goals.
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Researchers from hospitals in Canada stated: “Spending long hours in front of screens during early childhood is associated with lower reading and math scores,” while writing skills were largely unaffected.
The team found that one hour of daily screen time “is associated with a 10% decrease in the likelihood of achieving higher academic levels.” This conclusion was drawn by comparing parental reports of children’s screen time with the performance of approximately 3,300 students in Ontario, Canada, on reading and math tests.
The study, published in the scientific medical journal JAMA Network Open, emphasizes the need for “early interventions to reduce screen exposure” to help “improve academic achievement in primary school,” according to the researchers.
Katherine Berkin from SickKids Hospital in Toronto commented: “Screen time is a part of daily life for most families, and prolonged exposure, particularly to television and digital media, can have a tangible impact on children’s academic performance.”
Jennifer Hoff, Director of the Office of Education Quality and Accountability, which manages the school tests used in the study, stated that the findings provide “important insights into how early childhood experiences—such as screen time—affect academic achievement.”
The team also noted the need for further research to determine how the impact on academic performance may vary depending on the amount of screen time and “the type of content children are exposed to.”
