MRI scans reveal thinner grey matter in the brains of preschoolers who use screens heavily. The scans particularly show this thinning in areas associated with language, memory, and empathy. Heavy screen use also links to lags in reading and attention skills among preschoolers.
Even toddlers with three hours of daily screen time may experience delays in vocabulary and preschool readiness. Excessive screen time can cause stiffening of eye muscles. This stiffening potentially leads to behavioral problems. These problems may be mistaken for ADHD.
Expert Opinion
Sir Cary Cooper, a psychology professor at the University of Manchester, says:
Children are using these devices and they are not learning social and non-verbal skills that we pick up from interacting, face-to-face, with other people.
Cooper's statement emphasizes the importance of in-person social interaction for developing essential skills.
Jamaica News Bulletin is your premier source for the best in Jamaican news
