One non-negotiable habit that can improve language skills in children like magic

Screens have become an irreplaceable part of our daily lives, which means they’ve also become part of children’s lives. So what effect does this have on children’s developing brains, especially critical language skills? A recent study has found that children in families with too much screen time struggle with language skills.

Research by scientists from Estonia found that children whose parents frequently use screens also tend to use them more, and that increased screen time is linked to weaker vocabulary and grammar skills, with video games showing the most significant negative impact. The study is published inFrontiers in Developmental Psychology.

Scientists found that screentime was linked to poor vocabulary skills, and video games have the biggest negative effect. To understand the effects of screen time on children’s brain development and learning skills, scientists in Estonia surveyed the parents of more than 400 children. They collected data about the parents’ screen use, their children’s screen use, and their children’s language skills.

“Our study reveals that children’s screen use patterns are similar to those of their parents. Child language researchers emphasize the importance of everyday interactions with adults in early language development, where children are actively involved. At the same time, we know that all family members tend to use their screen devices. Because time is finite, we need to find out how this fierce competition between face-to-face interaction and screen time affects child language development,” Dr Tiia Tulviste of the University of Tartu, lead author of the study in Frontiers in Developmental Psychology, said in a statement.

Children often develop language skills by talking to adults. Having conversations exposes them to more vocabulary and grammatical structures. The presence of screens, however, can disrupt this, especially if an adult is being interrupted by texts or notifications.

During the study, the researchers categorized families into low, moderate, and high screen-use groups. They found that parents and children typically fell into the same group. Children with higher screen time scored lower in both vocabulary and grammar. No type of screen use was associated with better language outcomes.

“While reading ebooks and playing some educational games may offer language learning opportunities, especially for older children, research shows that during the first years of life, the most influential factor is everyday dyadic face-to-face parent-child verbal interaction,” Tulviste added.

Using screens for videogames had a drastic negative effect on children’s language skills, regardless of whether parents or children were gaming. “For Estonian children, few developmentally appropriate computer games exist for this age group. Games in a foreign language with limited interactivity or visual-only content likely do not provide rich opportunities for learning oral language and communication skills,” the researchers said.

Though the researchers pointed out that screens can affect language skills, they noted that further study is needed to explore how family screen habits evolve and their impact on children.

But how to counteract this? Reducing screen time is key. But one non-negotiable factor that can improve language skills in children is reading. The impact of reading books extends beyond vocabulary. It helps to improve listening skills, attention span, and even empathy, as children are introduced to diverse characters and situations that stretch their emotional understanding.

Parents can create a consistent reading routine that fits into a child’s daily schedule. Making books accessible at home, visiting libraries, and letting children choose what they want to read can cultivate a love for books.