Excessive screen time is damaging toddlers' ability to speak, according to UK government research that prompted officials to announce new guidance for parents of children under five.
The research, which surveyed 4,758 parents, found that two-year-olds with the highest screen use, approximately five hours daily, could say significantly fewer words than those with screen use of about 44 minutes per day. The findings revealed that nearly 98% of children under age two engage with screens daily during a critical period for language development.
How Screen Time Affects Toddlers
Research from the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics shows that one-year-olds exposed to more than four hours of screen time daily face delays in communication and problem-solving skills that persist into the preschool years, according to The Guardian.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced on Monday that the UK government will develop its first-ever official guidance on screen time for under-fives, set to be released in April 2026.
A national working group led by Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children's Commissioner for England, and Professor Russell Viner, a scientific adviser from the Department for Education, will create the guidance after consulting with parents, children, and early years professionals.
"Parents, teachers, and nursery workers talk about children arriving at nursery and school and finding it harder to hold conversations, focus, or engage in learning," Phillipson stated.
The Education Secretary acknowledged that screens are now part of family life and emphasized that parents need practical support on how to use them effectively rather than whether to use them at all.
The new guidance will assist parents in identifying alternatives to screen-based activities and is expected to suggest using screens as part of interactive activities like storytime or with educational games. It will also be accompanied by lessons for parents on early years development, including speech and language support, Policy Mogul reported.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting screen time to one hour per day for children aged 2 to 5, with no screen use for children under 18 months except for video chatting.
Research indicates that screen exposure cuts down on critical parent-child conversation time, which is essential for vocabulary acquisition. Studies have shown that toddlers hear approximately 1,100 fewer adult words per day when screens are on, reducing opportunities for the back-and-forth exchanges that build language skills.
Children's Language Development
A rich home literacy environment, including reading, storytelling, and conversations, can help mitigate the negative effects of screen exposure on vocabulary development.
Felicity Gillespie, director of the charitable organization Kindred Squared, called the evidence-based guidelines "long overdue and much appreciated," noting that polling shows 40% of parents believe limiting screen time would better prepare their child for school.
Children exposed to screens before 12 months face higher risks of language delays compared to those introduced to screens at later ages. The guidance aims to help families balance screens with play, speaking, and reading during the crucial early years of child development, as per the BBC.
