A pediatrician’s guide for local mothers navigating the reality of toddler screen time, the myth of educational apps, and how to become a "media mentor.
Do young children actually understand what they see on TV?
It turns out that kids see things very differently than we do.
In the 1990s, researchers showed three-year-old's video images of popcorn on a TV and asked if it would fall out if they turned the set over.
Many answered, "Yes!"
Children need a store of background knowledge before they can process what happens on a screen the way adults do.
This is why being interactive during screen time is so important.
In one study, toddlers who just watched a video of puppets hiding didn't know where to find them in real life.
But toddlers who interacted with the screen (like a computer game) knew exactly where to go.
NOTE: No app is a replacement for a conversation.
Children learn from back-and-forth interactions with a real person, not a media voice talking at them.
If an app just repeats what they say, it’s not a conversation.
Think of screen media the same way you think of a picture book.
Talk to them about what they see, ask questions, and help them relate it to their real-world environment.
I have tried this with my sons - and it works!
Interacting with your kids during screen time also engages you as a parent and helps you select higher quality things for them to watch.
Be your child’s "Media Mentor" today.
Dr. Camilla Gupta is a board-certified pediatrician at ABC Pediatrics in Corpus Christi, TX.
Visit her main website to book a prenatal visit, transfer care or book an appointment.