Originally posted by\u00a0norah smith\u00a0on September 29, 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had my nieces over to visit recently and they insisted on downloading some apps on my phone that they could play with. As I was doing quick searches to see what was most recommended, I was a little taken aback when I came across a plethora of apps aimed at toddlers. I\u2019m talking \u201crecommended for ages 18 months\u201d educational apps that are meant to improve hand-eye coordination, introduce problem-solving, and hold concentration for longer periods of time. I wasn\u2019t shocked, per se. Of course there are apps for babies- there are apps for everything. It just got me thinking more and more about where my own line would sit for handheld screen time if I were to ever have kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s research that suggests that educational apps on mobile devices increase readiness for school in toddlers if used in moderation, but also research to suggest that tech time at a young age can be detrimental and lead to speech delay. A study conducted by the University of Toronto and Sick Kids found that \u201cevery 30-minute increase in handheld screen time per day resulted in a 2.3 times increased risk of expressive speech delay\u201d in toddlers aged 18 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hospital for Sick Children. Mobile Media Device Use Is Associated with Language Delay in Infants<\/em>, The Hospital for Sick Children, 21 Dec. 2018, www.sickkids.ca\/AboutSickKids\/Newsroom\/Past-News\/2018\/screen-time-study.html.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Link to the full study can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Originally posted by\u00a0norah smith\u00a0on September 29, 2019 I had my nieces over to visit recently and they insisted on downloading some apps on my phone…<\/p>\n