A Reflection on Controversial Literature on Screen Time and Educational Apps Use in 0-5 Years Old Children

doi:10.3390/ijerph17134641

Review

. 2020 Jun 28;17(13):4641.

doi: 10.3390/ijerph17134641.

A Reflection on Controversial Literature on Screen Time and Educational Apps Use in 0-5 Years Old Children

Luca Cerniglia¹, Silvia Cimino²

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Psychology, International Telematic University Uninettuno, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 39, 00186 Rome, Italy.
² Dynamic and Clinical Department, Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Rome, Italy.

PMID: 32605168
PMCID: PMC7369694
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17134641

Review

A Reflection on Controversial Literature on Screen Time and Educational Apps Use in 0-5 Years Old Children

Luca Cerniglia et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020.

. 2020 Jun 28;17(13):4641.

doi: 10.3390/ijerph17134641.

Authors

Luca Cerniglia¹, Silvia Cimino²

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Psychology, International Telematic University Uninettuno, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 39, 00186 Rome, Italy.
² Dynamic and Clinical Department, Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Rome, Italy.

PMID: 32605168
PMCID: PMC7369694
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17134641

Abstract

Over the last five years, there has been a significant increase in screen time and apps usage by children under five years old. The considerable growth in usage by very young children has not corresponded to conclusive and consistent research investigating its possible benefits and risks. This article proposes a brief overview of recent results in this field, specifically focusing on the use of educational apps and their positive, null, and/or negative outcomes on young children's cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning. The aim of the present article is to stimulate the development and advancement of evidence-based guidelines that caregivers and educators could adopt to regulate very young children's engagement with digital technologies.

Keywords: 0–5 children; educational apps; screen time.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interest.

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References

1. Babic M.J., Smith J.J., Morgan P.J., Eather N., Plotnikoff R.C., Lubans D.R. Longitudinal associations between changes in screen-time and mental health outcomes in adolescents. Ment. Health Phys. Act. 2017;12:124–131. doi: 10.1016/j.mhpa.2017.04.001. - DOI
1. Odgers C.L. Why Digital Tools Have Not Yet Revolutionized Adolescent Health Research and What We Can Do. J. Res. Adolesc. 2019;29:675–681. doi: 10.1111/jora.12534. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Twenge J.M., Campbell W.K. Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Prev. Med. Rep. 2018;12:271–283. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.10.003. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Homer B.D., Kinzer C.K., Plass J.L., Letourneau S.M., Hoffman D., Bromley M., Kornak Y. Moved to learn: The effects of interactivity in a Kinect-based literacy game for beginning readers. Comput. Educ. 2014;74:37–49. doi: 10.1016/j.compedu.2014.01.007. - DOI
1. Rosen L.D., Lim A.F., Felt J., Carrier L.M., Cheever N.A., Lara-Ruiz J.M., Rokkum J. Media and technology use predicts ill-being among children, preteens and teenagers independent of the negative health impacts of exercise and eating habits. Comput. Hum. Behav. 2014;35:364–375. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2014.01.036. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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[1] Babic M.J., Smith J.J., Morgan P.J., Eather N., Plotnikoff R.C., Lubans D.R. Longitudinal associations between changes in screen-time and mental health outcomes in adolescents. Ment. Health Phys. Act. 2017;12:124–131. doi: 10.1016/j.mhpa.2017.04.001. - DOI

[2] Babic M.J., Smith J.J., Morgan P.J., Eather N., Plotnikoff R.C., Lubans D.R. Longitudinal associations between changes in screen-time and mental health outcomes in adolescents. Ment. Health Phys. Act. 2017;12:124–131. doi: 10.1016/j.mhpa.2017.04.001. - DOI

[3] Odgers C.L. Why Digital Tools Have Not Yet Revolutionized Adolescent Health Research and What We Can Do. J. Res. Adolesc. 2019;29:675–681. doi: 10.1111/jora.12534. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Odgers C.L. Why Digital Tools Have Not Yet Revolutionized Adolescent Health Research and What We Can Do. J. Res. Adolesc. 2019;29:675–681. doi: 10.1111/jora.12534. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Twenge J.M., Campbell W.K. Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Prev. Med. Rep. 2018;12:271–283. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.10.003. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[6] Twenge J.M., Campbell W.K. Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Prev. Med. Rep. 2018;12:271–283. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.10.003. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[7] Homer B.D., Kinzer C.K., Plass J.L., Letourneau S.M., Hoffman D., Bromley M., Kornak Y. Moved to learn: The effects of interactivity in a Kinect-based literacy game for beginning readers. Comput. Educ. 2014;74:37–49. doi: 10.1016/j.compedu.2014.01.007. - DOI

[8] Homer B.D., Kinzer C.K., Plass J.L., Letourneau S.M., Hoffman D., Bromley M., Kornak Y. Moved to learn: The effects of interactivity in a Kinect-based literacy game for beginning readers. Comput. Educ. 2014;74:37–49. doi: 10.1016/j.compedu.2014.01.007. - DOI

[9] Rosen L.D., Lim A.F., Felt J., Carrier L.M., Cheever N.A., Lara-Ruiz J.M., Rokkum J. Media and technology use predicts ill-being among children, preteens and teenagers independent of the negative health impacts of exercise and eating habits. Comput. Hum. Behav. 2014;35:364–375. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2014.01.036. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] Rosen L.D., Lim A.F., Felt J., Carrier L.M., Cheever N.A., Lara-Ruiz J.M., Rokkum J. Media and technology use predicts ill-being among children, preteens and teenagers independent of the negative health impacts of exercise and eating habits. Comput. Hum. Behav. 2014;35:364–375. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2014.01.036. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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A Reflection on Controversial Literature on Screen Time and Educational Apps Use in 0-5 Years Old Children

Affiliations

A Reflection on Controversial Literature on Screen Time and Educational Apps Use in 0-5 Years Old Children

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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References

Publication types

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LinkOut - more resources

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