Zero. Yes, you read that right. The recommendation for infants and very young toddlers is absolutely zero screen-time during the day. That might come as a bit of a shock to some parents. It’s becoming just as common to see a small toddler playing with mom’s iPhone or iPad as it is to see them with a doll or toy truck. There are hundreds of educational videos and television programs out there that claim to help children and even babies learn faster.
Yet, although these videos may feature child-friendly characters and earnestly talk about colors, shapes or numbers under the pretense of education, there’s virtually no solid scientific evidence to show that they make a positive difference. However, there are studies show that children who mostly watching TV or playing iPhone or iPad will have negative effect on their study including attention span, language development and aggressive behaviour. Passively absorbing this information is no substitute for direct human interaction, active play and constructive problem solving. Get your child a puzzle or a set of colorful blocks and take the time to sit down with them instead.