In March 2020 researchers from Canada and the USA published their review of the medical scientific literature to assess the association between duration of screen time and background television, educational programming and co-viewing and onset of screen use, and children’s language skills. A total of 42 studies, involving 18,905 children under the age of 12 years, were included in the review. Results showed that a greater duration of screen time (hours per use) was associated with lower language skills, whilst better quality screen use (educational programmes) was associated with stronger language skills. Later age at screen use onset was also associated with stronger child language skills.
Madigan S et al. Associations Between Screen Use and Child Language Skills: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatr. 2020 Mar 23. [Epub ahead of print]