Excessive Screen Time Linked to Lower Test Scores in Children, New study Finds
A new Canadian study reveals a notable association between increased screen time in young children and lower academic performance, adding to growing concerns about the impact of digital devices on child advancement.
Anne Whitmore,a working mother of four,understands the allure of screens all too well. She and her husband have implemented strict limits – just one hour of device use per day after school – but maintaining those boundaries is a constant challenge. “As a parent, we’re constantly struggling with how do we prepare our kids for the future? How do we get them ready for a digital world, but also balance the need for, you know, having a broader perspective and having … other skills of critical thinking and social-emotional intelligence?” Whitmore, president of the Surrey District parent Advisory Council, told CBC News.
The study, published Friday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, tracked more than 3,000 children in Ontario over a 15-year period (2008-2023). Researchers from Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) and St. Michael’s Hospital analyzed data on children’s screen time – including television, video games, computers, and tablets – as reported by their parents, and compared it to their scores on standardized EQAO tests in grades 3 and 6.
The findings are stark: for each additional hour of screen time, children demonstrated approximately a 10% lower likelihood of meeting reading and mathematics standards in Grade 3, and mathematics standards in Grade 6. Dr. Catherine Birken, a pediatrician and senior scientist at Sick Kids and lead author of the study, emphasized the “significant association” between screen use and academic outcomes.
This research builds upon existing concerns about the broader effects of excessive screen time, which have been linked to poor mental health, disrupted sleep patterns, and insufficient physical activity. Child psychiatry researchers have also warned that consistently turning to digital devices to soothe tantrums could lead to future emotional and behavioral issues.
The study did not differentiate between types of screen time – whether a child was engaged in educational content, video gaming, or video chatting with family. it also relied on parental reporting, meaning it demonstrates a correlation, not necessarily causation. Though, Dr. Sachin Maharaj,an assistant professor of educational leadership at the University of Ottawa,who was not involved in the study,noted the findings align with a growing body of research. “All of this [screen time] trains our attention in particular ways that may make it harder to focus for long periods of time. And that translates into learning, where if you can’t focus, it’s just harder to learn and think deeply,” he explained to CBC News.
Maharaj also pointed out that increased screen time frequently enough displaces other activities crucial for child development, such as face-to-face interactions and outdoor play, both of which are demonstrably linked to improved academic performance.
The growing awareness of these issues is reflected in the recent success of Jonathan Haidt’s book, The Anxious Generation, which explores the impact of smartphones on youth mental health and well-being. Watch: Author of The Anxious Generation talks kids and smartphones: How smartphones created The Anxious Generation of kids.
Several Ontario schools and school boards are taking further action, filing lawsuits against major tech companies like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok, alleging that their platforms have negatively “rewired” children’s brains and hindered their ability to learn.
Dr. Birken stressed that the study is not intended to shame or blame parents. “This is not a shaming and blaming possibility,” she saeid, emphasizing the need for a collaborative approach involving parents, teachers, doctors, and policymakers to promote healthy screen use. The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends prioritizing educational content and encouraging shared screen time between parents and children.
For Whitmore, establishing clear guidelines – like her family’s one-hour rule, with some adaptability for illness or family movie nights – has been effective. “It really does help some of that back and forth,” she said. “In our view, it’s non-negotiable.”
