News
Screen time linked to
developmental delays in kids
By Jody Johnson-Pettit
Children and technology are practically
inseparable these days. of Psychology at the University of Calgary and the
study’s lead author.
However, digital screens have long been a concern
in the eye care industry, due to the potentially
damaging effects of blue light exposure. “We were particularly interested in the long-
term impact of screens, which is why we followed
children from ages two to five over time and
repeatedly assessed both screen time use and
children’s developmental outcomes.”
And now, a new study has linked excessive screen
time with developmental delays in young children.
“Screens have become a significant concern for
parents, so we wanted to find out whether or not
too much screen time was impacting children’s
developmental trajectories,” says Dr. Sheri
Madigan, assistant professor in the Department
38 Optical Prism | July 2019
The study, published in the medical journal JAMA
Pediatrics, examined the association between
screen time and early childhood development in
2,500 Alberta homes between 2011 and 2016.