🤯I keep thinking about this recent student from The Ohio State University which focused on screen time and literacy and math skills in preschoolers from marginalized communities. It found NO correlation (no relationship at all) between time on screens and literacy or math skills.
🔥But what I love even more is the study’s authors called out the lack of systemic support for these families. From the authors: “We should stop demonizing screen media use and find better ways to support families and the education and development of children living in poverty”.
🔥Kids who have screen time are still capable of being:
Funny
Kind
Smart
Responsible
Critical thinkers
Independent players
Pleasant
👨👨👦👦And adults who use screen time to meet their needs or their family’s needs are still:
Loving
Caring
Attentive
Great caregivers
🧠If we fear a child has too much screen time, perhaps the question to ask is: what underlying need is not being met for this child? And if we do think that’s related to screen time, then the question becomes- what need is this screen time meeting? Is it replacing a lack of parental leave? Child care? A regulated parent? Outdoor access? Movement? How do we address THAT need?
👉🏻Focusing on the screen will only make that caregiver feel shame, and that doesn’t help anyone, especially the child.
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