Research-Backed Advice on Screen Policies for Young Kids
Over the last few decades, parenting has become a constant battle around screens. Since publishing The Anxious Generation, we’ve focused on a key policy: delay. Delay smartphones until age 14, and social media until 16. Put off, for as long as you can, the beginning of that constant battle.
But then what? And what about all the other tech kids are using at home? These are the questions that we plan to address in a series of upcoming posts. We’ve been searching for the most reliable research to guide families, particularly those with children who already have access to personal devices.
Today, we’re pleased to share an insightful essay by Dr. Jacqueline Nesi and Dr. Cara Goodwin, highlighting a recent meta-analysis on the effects of screens on young children (0-6). Dr. Nesi, a clinical psychologist and professor at Brown University, authors the popular Substack Techno Sapiens, where she regularly breaks down cutting-edge research with practical advice for parents (Check out her recent post on the evidence behind phone-free schools, which we republished on After Babel). Dr. Goodwin, a child psychologist and founder of Parenting Translator, offers clear, research-backed parenting strategies through her widely-read newsletter. (Dr. Goodwin took Jon’s psych 101 class when they were both at UVA.)
It’s the end of a long summer day. Bath time is done, pajamas are on, and you’re settling onto the couch with your child. They snuggle up under your arm, and the faint smell of their shampoo reaches your nose. You grab the remote to turn on the TV, and hug them in a little tighter. Everything is perfect. The TV begins playing their favorite show, and as you settle in for a little screen time, you realize there’s just one thing that could make this moment even more perfect:
