Childhood Cognitive Development and Media Use
Elizabeth Karow
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Society of Pediatrics agree that children from 0-2
years should not have any exposure to technology at all. Three to five year olds should be restricted to
one hour per day, and 6-18 years restricted to 2 hours per day (AAP 2001/13, CPS 2010). However,
statistics show that American and Canadian children use 4-5 times that amount of technology. Just as
dietary health is a matter of quality and quantity, technological health is a matter of what we use, when
we use it, and how much time is spent using it.
The following are the potential hazards of overuse of inappropriate media during early childhood:
1. Rapid brain growth
Between 0 and 2 years, infant's brains triple in size, and continue in a state of rapid
development to 21 years of age (Christakis 2011). Early brain development is determined by
environmental stimuli, or lack thereof. Stimulation to a developing brain caused by
overexposure to technologies (cell phones, internet, iPads, TV), has been shown to be
associated with executive functioning and attention deficit, cognitive delays, impaired learning,
increased impulsivity and decreased ability to self-regulate, e.g. tantrums (Small 2008, Pagini
2010).
2. Delayed Development
Technology use restricts movement, which can result in delayed development. One in three
children now enter school developmentally delayed, negatively impacting literacy and academic
achievement (HELP EDI Maps 2013). Movement enhances attention and learning ability (Ratey
2008). Use of technology under the age of 12 years is detrimental to child development and
learning (Rowan 2010).
3. Epidemic Obesity
TV and video game use correlates with increased obesity (Tremblay 2005). Children who are
allowed a device in their bedrooms have 30% increased incidence of obesity (Feng 2011). One in
four Canadian, and one in three U.S. children are obese (Tremblay 2011).
4. Sleep Deprivation
60% of parents do not supervise their child's technology usage, and 75% of children are allowed
technology in their bedrooms (Kaiser Foundation 2010). 75% of children aged 9 and 10 years are
sleep deprived to the extent that their grades are detrimentally impacted (Boston College 2012).
5. Mental Illness
Technology overuse is implicated as a causal factor in rising rates of child depression, anxiety,
attachment disorder, attention deficit, autism, bipolar disorder, psychosis and problematic child
behavior (Bristol University 2010, Mentzoni 2011, Shin 2011, Liberatore 2011, Robinson 2008).
One in six Canadian children have a diagnosed mental illness, many of whom are on dangerous
psychotropic medication (Waddell 2007).
6. Aggression
Violent media content can cause child aggression (Anderson, 2007). Young children are
increasingly exposed to rising incidence of physical and sexual violence in today's media. The
U.S. has categorized media violence as a Public Health Risk due to causal impact on child
aggression (Huesmann 2007).
7. Digital dementia
High speed media content can contribute to attention deficit, as well as decreased
concentration and memory, due to loss of connection with the frontal cortex (pruning)
(Christakis 2004, Small 2008). Children who can't pay attention can't learn.
8. Addictions
As parents attach more and more to technology, they are detaching from their children. In the
absence of parental attachment, detached children can attach to devices, which can result in
addiction (Rowan 2010). One in 11 children is addicted to technology (Gentile 2009). In homes
where parent use is high, children experience less emotional bonding, language modeling, and
self-control.
Cognitive development can be enhanced rather than hindered by carefully selected and supervised
technology used for limited amounts of time.
Here are some examples of teacher-tested, highly rated, cognitively positive apps:
10 Great Apps for Elementary
Here are 10 top recommendations from the editors of Common Sense Media. Use them with kids from
pre-kindergarten through fifth grade to help them hone their social skills, tell stories, use their
imaginations, and get going on foundational math and science.
1.
Grades
Write About This
Price $3.99
Pre-K-5
Fun pictures and prompts are great for
Platforms iPad
Type App
getting kids to start writing
IXL Math Practice Publisher: IXL
Grades
Price Free
2. Learning
Pre-K-12 Platforms Android, iPad, Kindle Fire,
Standards-aligned worksheets help kids Type App Chromebook
develop a wide range of skills
Kodable Class Publisher: SurfScore
Grades K-5 Price $5/month
3. Fun procedural reasoning for kids; great
Type App Platforms iPad
curriculum ideas for teachers
Globe Smart Education 1 Publisher:
Round by Design
4.
Engaging stories, activities introduce
kids to peers around the world
Grades 1-3 Price $19.99
Type App Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
Grades 1-4 Price $9.99
5. News-O-Matic, School Edition, 2014-15
Type App Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
Publisher: Press4Kids
Adaptive, interactive daily stories for
elementary school students
Barefoot World Atlas Publisher: Touch
6. Press
Visually stunning 3-D globe piques
students' interest in world facts
7.
8.
TeleStory Publisher: Launchpad Toys
Direct and star in zany TV shows with
fun, easy-to-use movie maker
Grades 1-5 Price $4.99
Type App Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
Grades 1-5 Price $2.99
Type App Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
DIY - Skills For Kids Publisher: DIY
Grades 2-5 Price Free
From cardboarding to cooking, this app Type App Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
helps kids find the fun in DIY
Shadow Puppet Edu Publisher: Shadow
Grades 2-5 Price Free
9. Puppet Inc.
Type App Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
Resource-rich video slideshow creator a
gem for elementary classrooms
DragonBox Algebra 5+ Publisher:
10. WeWantToKnow AS
Mesmerizing step-by-step puzzler sets
the foundation for algebra
Price $5.99
Grades 4-8 Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch,
Type App Kindle Fire, Windows Phone, Apps for
Windows
10 Great Apps for Middle School
Music, words, math, and more come alive with these 10 great apps for grades 6-8. Use them to pique
students' interest or help them acquire new skills.
Grades KWeLearnedIt Publisher: eduClipper, Inc.
Price Free
1.
12
Digital portfolio and management tool
Platforms iPad
Type App
for project-based classrooms
2.
Grades 1LightSail Publisher: LightSail Inc.
Price By subscription
12
Robust, responsive reading tool
Platforms Android, iPad, Chromebook
Type App
measures meaningful literacy outcomes
3.
Grades 3Pixel Press Floors Publisher: Pixel Press
Price Free - $1.99
8
Technology
Platforms iPad
Type App
Ingenious game-creation tool translates
kids' paper-and-pencil designs
Sound Uncovered Publisher:
4. Exploratorium
Interactive science tool teaches with
virtual experiments, exploration
5.
Grades 3Price Free
12
Platforms iPad
Type App
Grades 4GarageBand Publisher: Apple
Price Free
12
Amazingly powerful music workstation
Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
Type App
unleashes the musician in us all
Project Noah Publisher: Networked
6. Organisms
Contribute kid research to stellar
crowdsourced field guide
Grades 4Price Free
12
Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
Type App
Color Uncovered Publisher:
7. Exploratorium
Engaging ebook combines art with
science in playful ways
Grades 5Price Free
12
Platforms iPad
Type App
Grades
DragonBox Algebra 12+ Publisher:
6-8
8. WeWantToKnow AS
Type
Super fun, cutting-edge approach to
App
learning and practicing algebra
Price $6.99
Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod
Touch, Kindle Fire, Windows Phone, Apps
for Windows
Grades
Educreations Interactive Whiteboard
6-12
9. Publisher: Educreations, Inc
Type
Enliven lessons and presentations
App
with this easy-to-use tool
Price Free
Platforms iPad
10.
Notability Publisher: Ginger Labs
Flexible note-taking tool appeals to
multiple learning styles