UK Government Warns Parents of Harmful Screen Time on Toddlers' Vocabulary
The UK government has issued a stern warning to parents about the dangers of excessive screen time on toddlers' language development. Research reveals that children who spend more than five hours a day glued to screens are severely hampered in their ability to form words, with some studies suggesting they could say up to 53% fewer words than those with limited screen use.
The alarming findings have prompted the government to take action, as education secretary Bridget Phillipson acknowledged that "too much passive screen time can crowd out talking, play and reading" essential for toddlers' language development. The government is set to release its first guidance on screen use for under-fives in April, providing parents with tips on how to incorporate screens into activities such as reading and playing with children.
The warning comes as 98% of two-year-olds now watch screens daily, with an average screen time of 127 minutes a day. This is more than three times the recommended limit by the World Health Organization for children aged two to four. The research also found that 19% of two-year-olds play video games, with total screen and gaming time averaging 140 minutes a day.
The consequences of excessive screen time on toddlers' vocabulary are stark: those who spend the most time watching screens can say as few as 21 words from a set of 34, compared to 65% for those with limited screen use. Furthermore, one in four children surveyed showed signs of behavioral or emotional problems, highlighting the need for parents and educators to take action.
The government-commissioned research has sparked concerns about the impact of social media on young children's mental health and concentration. The NASUWT teaching union has even called for a ban on social media for under-16s, citing concerns about mental health and concentration.
The UK government has issued a stern warning to parents about the dangers of excessive screen time on toddlers' language development. Research reveals that children who spend more than five hours a day glued to screens are severely hampered in their ability to form words, with some studies suggesting they could say up to 53% fewer words than those with limited screen use.
The alarming findings have prompted the government to take action, as education secretary Bridget Phillipson acknowledged that "too much passive screen time can crowd out talking, play and reading" essential for toddlers' language development. The government is set to release its first guidance on screen use for under-fives in April, providing parents with tips on how to incorporate screens into activities such as reading and playing with children.
The warning comes as 98% of two-year-olds now watch screens daily, with an average screen time of 127 minutes a day. This is more than three times the recommended limit by the World Health Organization for children aged two to four. The research also found that 19% of two-year-olds play video games, with total screen and gaming time averaging 140 minutes a day.
The consequences of excessive screen time on toddlers' vocabulary are stark: those who spend the most time watching screens can say as few as 21 words from a set of 34, compared to 65% for those with limited screen use. Furthermore, one in four children surveyed showed signs of behavioral or emotional problems, highlighting the need for parents and educators to take action.
The government-commissioned research has sparked concerns about the impact of social media on young children's mental health and concentration. The NASUWT teaching union has even called for a ban on social media for under-16s, citing concerns about mental health and concentration.
. I mean, come on, 5 hours a day is just crazy talk! My little one is glued to screens during naptime and it's been years and they're still talking the ears off me 
. And yeah, I can see how too much passive screen time might hurt their vocab skills, but what about all the educational apps that are supposed to help? Are we just going to assume that all parents are clueless and need hand-holding on this one? 
this is like super crazy!! 
i cant even believe the UK gov is takin action over screen time & toddlers' vocab lolol what's next? ban on wifi in schools? 
but seriously tho, 53% fewer words from excessive screen use is wild 
like, how much screen time is too much?!? 
98% of two-year-olds watch screens daily? that's like half the day! 
what even is this world anymore?!? 
we need to be more mindful of what our little ones are exposed to, esp since they're so young & their brains are still developin 
lets get back to playtime, reading, & conversation! 
I'm going to have a chat with her about this and see if we can find some balance. Maybe they can read together or play games that don't involve screens... I just want my nephew to be happy and healthy, you know?
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. But a ban on social media for under-16s? That's just a bit extreme, don't you think? 
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I'm not surprised by this warning, to be honest... excessive screen time can't be good for anyone, let alone toddlers 
. I think the government is taking a step in the right direction by releasing guidance on screen use, but we need to be more proactive as parents and educators - every hour counts! 
screen time is like a bad joke for toddlers 
98% of them are glued to screens daily... no wonder they're struggling to form words 
that's just sad 
. And now they're watching screens daily?! That's crazy 
! The government needs to get serious about this ASAP 
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. We need to protect our little ones' language development and mental health 
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. Newsflash: kids are resilient! They can handle some screen time. And what about all the educational apps that are out there? Those are actually helping with language development, not hurting it 
. I think we're being too soft on our little ones, letting them develop at their own pace 
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And I don't blame parents for being worried, because if we can see this impact, can you imagine what other effects it might have on their mental health and concentration later down the line?
i remember when my sister was little she never played with her toys but would instead watch cartoons on the telly and now look at that 53% difference in words 
n now theres talk of banning social media 4 under-16s cuz its hurtin young brains 
I mean I know parents are busy but we gotta set boundaries, screen time is addictive and it's not good for our little ones' brain development 
I remember when my own niece was her age she used to play outside all day, explore nature, and learn so much from the world around her, now kids are missing out on that 
we gotta get back to basics and make screen time a fun activity not just mindless scrolling 
My nephew had a tablet with him all the time when he was little and it was like he wasn't even talking to anyone. Now his kid's the same way... it breaks my heart 
. I hope the government can help parents find a balance. We need to get our kids outside, playing, reading... not just staring at screens! 
and it's affecting their mental health too. parents need to be more aware of this and make sure they're balancing screen time with playtime and reading. the gov is finally taking action tho 
. Parents need support, educators need training, and we need to start having conversations about responsible tech use in our communities 
, reading books 
. The government is on the right track by providing guidelines for parents, but we all gotta do our part too 
!
I'm all for reading and playing with the kids, but not at the expense of quality playtime. The government's new guidance is a good step in the right direction, though. As a grandparent myself, I've seen how quickly screen time can become a habit - it's hard to put down those screens when they're glued to them!