Screen Time and Early Development: What Parents Can Take From the Research
Screens can become part of the day almost without anyone planning it. A show while breakfast is cleared away. A phone during a long wait. A tablet when everyone is tired. For parents and grandparents, the conversation about screen time can quickly feel like another test to pass.
Research can help us think about those routines without turning them into a judgment on individual families. A useful response is to understand what a study actually found, then consider where everyday play might fit into your own home.
What the study found
A 2023 study in JAMA Pediatrics followed 7,097 mother-child pairs in Japan. Parents reported screen use at age one; development was screened at ages two and four using the ASQ-3 questionnaire. Higher early screen exposure was associated with later communication and problem-solving delays. Results varied by age and developmental area.
Put the numbers in context
For communication at age two, four or more daily hours at age one were associated with adjusted odds 4.78 times those in the under-one-hour group. That is an odds ratio, not a prediction for an individual child or a 4.78-fold increase in probability.
This observational study cannot establish causation. Parent reports can be imperfect, other influences may remain, and educational content was not separated from other viewing. Screening results are not diagnoses. The research did not test toys or prove that replacing screens with a particular activity prevents delays.
Start with one ordinary part of the day
If you want to make more room for play, choose a moment that feels manageable. You do not need to redesign the whole week. Pick a time when you can offer an alternative and help the child get started, rather than choosing the busiest five minutes of the day.
Make the invitation concrete. “Let’s find the dog in this book” gives a young child somewhere to begin. For an older child, “Let’s build a road to your toy garage” offers a project. The aim is to make the next activity easy to picture.
These are practical ideas from Best Kids Toys, not interventions evaluated in the study. Choose activities and materials that suit your child’s age, abilities and interests.
Simple play ideas for babies and young toddlers
Keep it familiar and stay with your child. You can look through a sturdy picture book, point to something they notice and wait for their response. A sound, gesture or glance can be your cue to continue. There is no need to turn each page into a quiz.
A familiar song with actions or a game of peekaboo can also give you something to do together. Follow the child’s interest and stop when they have had enough. Use age-appropriate toys and materials, especially while children are still exploring objects with their mouths.
You do not need to buy anything to begin. Your voice, a familiar book and a few minutes together can be the whole activity. Construction sets labeled 3+ belong with older children, not in a one-year-old’s play basket.
For children aged three and up, give them a project
Older children may enjoy having something to decide, make and change. Try building a home for a favorite toy, arranging a simple pattern or inventing a pretend journey. Start with materials they already have and enjoy.
| An invitation to play | What the child can decide | How an adult can join |
|---|---|---|
| Build a home for a toy | The shape, entrance and rooms | Ask where the toy will sleep |
| Make a pretend delivery route | Where the journey starts and ends | Take a role in the story |
| Create a pattern | Which pieces come next | Try copying their design |
| Tell a story with figures | Who appears and what happens | Let the child choose your character |
Leave space for their answer. If a tower falls, you can notice what happened and ask what they want to try next. If they change the story halfway through, follow the new idea. The activity does not need a polished result or an adult-designed lesson.
Make the next activity easier to choose
A small, visible selection can be easier to start with than a cupboard full of possibilities. Put out a book and one suitable play activity. For older children, leave a simple build partly started or set a puzzle where they can reach it.
Give a clear heads-up when a planned screen session is ending, and offer a specific next step. You might say, “When this finishes, we’ll choose a book,” or, for an older child, “Your track pieces are ready on the mat.” Some days the change will be easier than others. Treat it as a routine to work on, not a measure of whether you are doing parenting correctly.
A useful role for grandparents
Ask the parents which routines they would like you to follow. Agreeing on the plan is more helpful than surprising the child with a different set of rules. A familiar book, a pretend game or a shared building project can become something the child looks forward to at your house.
When choosing a gift, think about what you could do together. A gift can begin with “Let’s make something” rather than an expectation that the child will entertain themselves immediately. Check the age label and what the family already owns before buying.
A building option for ages 3+
For older children who already enjoy construction, Infinity Racer Magnetic Train offers magnetic track pieces to connect, a rechargeable self-driving vehicle and routes they can rebuild. Invite the child to choose two pretend destinations, then work out a route together.
This is an optional play suggestion from our store, not a product endorsed by the study or a treatment for developmental concerns. It is recommended for ages 3+ and is not suitable for the one-year-olds whose screen exposure the researchers measured.
If you are worried about your child’s development
Bring specific concerns about communication, play or other milestones to your child’s pediatrician. Describe what you have noticed and ask whether a developmental assessment would be useful. Changing a screen routine or buying a toy should not replace that conversation.
Give play a place in the day
Choose one invitation you can realistically make: a book on the sofa, a familiar song or a building project for an older child. Start there, notice what interests them and make room for another attempt tomorrow. A family routine can be thoughtful without being perfect.
Study reference
Takahashi I, Obara T, Ishikuro M, et al. Screen Time at Age 1 Year and Communication and Problem-Solving Developmental Delay at 2 and 4 Years. JAMA Pediatrics. 2023;177(10):1039–1046. Published August 21, 2023. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.3057.