1
|
Hutton JS, Piotrowski JT, Bagot K, Blumberg F, Canli T, Chein J, Christakis DA, Grafman J, Griffin JA, Hummer T, Kuss DJ, Lerner M, Marcovitch S, Paulus MP, Perlman G, Romeo R, Thomason ME, Turel O, Weinstein A, West G, Pietra PHD, Potenza MN. Digital Media and Developing Brains: Concerns and Opportunities. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2024; 11:287-298. [PMID: 38606363 PMCID: PMC11003891 DOI: 10.1007/s40429-024-00545-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Purpose of Review The incorporation of digital technologies and their use in youth's everyday lives has been increasing rapidly over the past several decades with possible impacts on youth development and mental health. This narrative review aimed to consider how the use of digital technologies may be influencing brain development underlying adaptive and maladaptive screen-related behaviors. Recent Findings To explore and provide direction for further scientific inquiry, an international group of experts considered what is known, important gaps in knowledge, and how a research agenda might be pursued regarding relationships between screen media activity and neurodevelopment from infancy through childhood and adolescence. While an understanding of brain-behavior relationships involving screen media activity has been emerging, significant gaps exist that have important implications for the health of developing youth. Summary Specific considerations regarding brain-behavior relationships involving screen media activity exist for infancy, toddlerhood, and early childhood; middle childhood; and adolescence. Transdiagnostic frameworks may provide a foundation for guiding future research efforts. Translating knowledge gained into better interventions and policy to promote healthy development is important in a rapidly changing digital technology environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John S. Hutton
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA and Division of General and Community Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
| | | | - Kara Bagot
- Departments of Psychiatry & Pediatrics, Addiction Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY USA
| | - Fran Blumberg
- Division of Psychological and Educational Services, Fordham University, New York, NY USA
| | - Turhan Canli
- Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY USA
| | - Jason Chein
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Dimitri A. Christakis
- Center for Child Health Behaviour and Development, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Jordan Grafman
- The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab & Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL USA
| | - James A. Griffin
- The National Institutes of Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, USA
| | - Tom Hummer
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - Daria J. Kuss
- International Gaming Research Unit and Cyberpsychology Group, NTU Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Matthew Lerner
- Departments of Psychology, Psychiatry & Pediatrics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA and AJ Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Stuart Marcovitch
- Department Of Psychology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC USA
| | | | - Greg Perlman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony, Brook University, Stony Brook, NY USA
| | - Rachel Romeo
- Departments of Human Development & Quantitative Methodology, Hearing & Speech Sciences, and Neuroscience & Cognitive Sciences, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD USA
| | - Moriah E. Thomason
- Departments of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Population Health, New York University, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Ofir Turel
- College of Business and Economics, California State University, Fullerton, CA USA
- Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Aviv Weinstein
- The Isadore and Ruth Kastin Chair for Brain Research, Department of Psychology and Behavioral Science, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Gregory West
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Pamela Hurst-Della Pietra
- Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, Jericho, NY USA
- Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook, NY USA
| | - Marc N. Potenza
- Departments of Psychiatry, Child Study and Neuroscience, Connecticut Mental Health Center, Yale School of Medicine, Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06517 USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Janakiefski L, Guicherit IC, Saylor MM. Preschoolers ask questions about unknown words on video chat and in live interactions at similar rates. J Exp Child Psychol 2024; 238:105780. [PMID: 37774502 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2023.105780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a major increase in digital interactions in early experience. A crucial question, given expanding virtual platforms, is whether preschoolers' active word learning behaviors extend to their interactions over video chat. When not provided with sufficient information to link new words to meanings, preschoolers drive their word learning by asking questions. In person, 5-year-olds focus their questions on unknown words compared with known words, highlighting their active word learning. Here, we investigated whether preschoolers' question-asking over video chat differs from in-person question-asking. In the study, 5-year-olds were instructed to move toys in response to known and unknown verbs on a video conferencing call (i.e., Zoom). Consistent with in-person results, video chat participants (n = 18) asked more questions about unknown words than about known words. The rate of question-asking about words across video chat and in-person formats did not differ. Differences in the types of questions asked about words indicate, however, that although video chat does not hinder preschoolers' active word learning, the use of video chat may influence how preschoolers request information about words.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Janakiefski
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.
| | - Isabelle C Guicherit
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
| | - Megan M Saylor
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Jing M, Ye T, Kirkorian HL, Mares ML. Screen media exposure and young children's vocabulary learning and development: A meta-analysis. Child Dev 2023; 94:1398-1418. [PMID: 37042116 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
This meta-analysis synthesizes research on media use in early childhood (0-6 years), word-learning, and vocabulary size. Multi-level analyses included 266 effect sizes from 63 studies (Ntotal = 11,413) published between 1988-2022. Among samples with information about race/ethnicity (51%) and sex/gender (73%), most were majority White/Non-Hispanic and between 40%-60% female. Analyses revealed a small overall positive relation between screen media exposure and vocabulary (r = .23). Experimental studies yielded a small-to-medium effect (r = .30), with stronger effects for e-books than TV/video or games/apps, and non-significant effects for video chat. In correlational studies, there was no overall association between vocabulary size and naturalistic media exposure (r = .07), with the exception of naturalistic exposure to educational media (r = .17).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengguo Jing
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ting Ye
- Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Heather L Kirkorian
- Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Marie-Louise Mares
- Communication Arts, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of preschoolers: A parental guide. Heliyon 2023; 9:e14332. [PMID: 36974319 PMCID: PMC10028354 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Unexpected changes brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have affected humans worldwide. This review attempts to address major parental concerns about the development of preschool-aged children during the pandemic from the perspectives of neuropsychology, consultation, and motor development for preschoolers aged 2–5 years. Methods A total of 273 articles including original data, review articles, national and regional perspectives, government websites, and commentaries were considered in this review, of which 117 manuscripts were excluded because they were unrelated to children, adolescents, or COVID -19 pandemic/upper respiratory infections. A total of 156 manuscripts were included after reading the abstract and entire article. Results Telehealth could be an effective tool for addressing cognitive and emotional challenges that arise during the pandemic. Online consultations are highlighted for nutritional guidelines and to overcome problems that parents face when caring for children in difficult times. Outdoor activities using sanitisers, proper cleanliness, and following standard operating procedures are recommended. Parental preoccupation with media should be avoided. Interpretation: Many preschoolers show delays in reaching their developmental milestones, and the pandemic has increased parents' concerns, as access to practitioners is limited. Therefore, parents should be encouraged to undergo neuropsychological consultations whenever necessary. This study emphasises important strategies to ensure that children's development is minimally affected while staying in the confined environment of their homes. This study serves as a new guide for parents, as they raise young children in the new normal. Parents should undergo basic yearly physical, neuropsychological, nutritional, and speech checkups.
Collapse
|
5
|
Capparini C, To MPS, Reid VM. Should I follow your virtual gaze? Infants' gaze following over video call. J Exp Child Psychol 2023; 226:105554. [PMID: 36208491 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2022.105554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
From 10 months of age, human infants start to understand the function of the eyes in the looking behavior of others to the point where they preferentially orient toward an object if the social partner has open eyes rather than closed eyes. Thus far, gaze following has been investigated in controlled laboratory paradigms. The current study investigated this early ability using a remote live testing procedure, testing infants in their everyday environment while manipulating whether the experimenter could or could not see some target objects. A total of 32 11- and 12-month-old infants' looking behavior was assessed, varying the experimenter's eye status condition (open eyes vs closed eyes) in a between-participant design. Results showed that infants followed the gaze of a virtual social partner and that they preferentially followed open eyes rather than closed eyes. These data generalize past laboratory findings to a noisier home environment and demonstrate gaze processing capacities of infants to a virtual partner interacting with the participants in a live setup.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Capparini
- Department of Psychology, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YF, United Kingdom; Center for Research in Cognition & Neuroscience (CRCN), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles 1050, Belgium.
| | - Michelle P S To
- Department of Psychology, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YF, United Kingdom
| | - Vincent M Reid
- School of Psychology, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Belteki Z, van den Boomen C, Junge C. Face-to-face contact during infancy: How the development of gaze to faces feeds into infants' vocabulary outcomes. Front Psychol 2022; 13:997186. [PMID: 36389540 PMCID: PMC9650530 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.997186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Infants acquire their first words through interactions with social partners. In the first year of life, infants receive a high frequency of visual and auditory input from faces, making faces a potential strong social cue in facilitating word-to-world mappings. In this position paper, we review how and when infant gaze to faces is likely to support their subsequent vocabulary outcomes. We assess the relevance of infant gaze to faces selectively, in three domains: infant gaze to different features within a face (that is, eyes and mouth); then to faces (compared to objects); and finally to more socially relevant types of faces. We argue that infant gaze to faces could scaffold vocabulary construction, but its relevance may be impacted by the developmental level of the infant and the type of task with which they are presented. Gaze to faces proves relevant to vocabulary, as gazes to eyes could inform about the communicative nature of the situation or about the labeled object, while gazes to the mouth could improve word processing, all of which are key cues to highlighting word-to-world pairings. We also discover gaps in the literature regarding how infants' gazes to faces (versus objects) or to different types of faces relate to vocabulary outcomes. An important direction for future research will be to fill these gaps to better understand the social factors that influence infant vocabulary outcomes.
Collapse
|
7
|
Glick AR, Saiyed FS, Kutlesa K, Onishi KH, Nadig AS. Implications of video chat use for young children's learning and social-emotional development: Learning words, taking turns, and fostering familial relationships. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. COGNITIVE SCIENCE 2022; 13:e1599. [PMID: 35609141 DOI: 10.1002/wcs.1599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Parents of young children use video chat differently than other screen media, paralleling expert recommendations (e.g., American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Communications and Media, 2016), which suggest that video chat, unlike other screen media, is acceptable for use by children under 18 months. Video chat is unique among screen media in that it permits contingent (time-sensitive and content-sensitive) social interactions. Contingent social interactions take place between a child and a partner (dyadic), with objects (triadic), and with multiple others (multi-party configurations), which critically underpin development in multiple domains. First, we review how contingent social interaction may underlie video chat's advantages in two domains: for learning (specifically learning new words) and for social-emotional development (specifically taking turns and fostering familial relationships). Second, we describe constraints on video chat use and how using chat with an active adult (co-viewing) may mitigate some of its limitations. Finally, we suggest future research directions that will clarify the potential advantages and impediments to the use of video chat by young children. This article is categorized under: Linguistics > Language Acquisition Psychology > Learning Cognitive Biology > Social Development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aaron R Glick
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre for Research in Brain, Language, and Music, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Fauzia S Saiyed
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Education and Human Services, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Katia Kutlesa
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kristine H Onishi
- Centre for Research in Brain, Language, and Music, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Aparna S Nadig
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre for Research in Brain, Language, and Music, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Guellai B, Somogyi E, Esseily R, Chopin A. Effects of screen exposure on young children's cognitive development: A review. Front Psychol 2022; 13:923370. [PMID: 36059724 PMCID: PMC9431368 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.923370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The past decade has witnessed a rapid increase in the use of screen media in families, and infants are exposed to screens at younger ages than ever before. The objective of this review is twofold: (1) to understand the correlates and demographic factors determining exposure to screens, including interactive screens, when available, and (2) to study the effects of watching screens and using touchscreens on cognitive development, during the first 3 years of life. We argue that the effects of screen viewing depend mostly on contextual aspects of the viewing rather than on the quantity of viewing. That context includes the behavior of adult caregivers during viewing, the watched content in relation to the child's age, the interactivity of the screen and whether the screen is in the background or not. Depending on the context, screen viewing can have positive, neutral or negative effects on infants' cognition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bahia Guellai
- Département de Psychologie, Université Paris Nanterre, Nanterre, France
| | - Eszter Somogyi
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | - Rana Esseily
- Département de Psychologie, Université Paris Nanterre, Nanterre, France
| | - Adrien Chopin
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Roche E, Rocha‐Hidalgo J, Piper D, Strouse GA, Neely LI, Ryu J, Myers LJ, McClure E, Troseth GL, Zosh JM, Barr R. Presence at a distance: Video chat supports intergenerational sensitivity and positive infant affect during COVID-19. INFANCY 2022; 27:1008-1031. [PMID: 35932232 PMCID: PMC9539353 DOI: 10.1111/infa.12491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 disrupted infant contact with people beyond the immediate family. Because grandparents faced higher COVID-19 risks due to age, many used video chat instead of interacting with their infant grandchildren in person. We conducted a semi-naturalistic, longitudinal study with 48 families, each of whom submitted a series of video chats and surveys, and most (n = 40) also submitted a video of an in-person interaction. Families were mostly highly-educated, White/Caucasian, and lived between 1 and 2700 miles apart. We used multilevel models to examine grandparents' and parents' sensitivity during video chat across time (centered at February 1, 2021, the approximate date of vaccine availability). Grandparent video chat sensitivity changed as a function of date and parent sensitivity. Parent sensitivity changed as a function of date, grandparent sensitivity, and geographic distance. We then modeled infants' affective valence during video chat and in-person interactions with their grandparents, which was only predicted by grandparent sensitivity, not modality or other factors. This study demonstrates that caregivers were sensitive toward infants during video chat interactions despite fluctuations in family stress and reduced in-person contact during COVID-19 and that grandparent sensitivity predicted positive infant affect during both video chat and in-person interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Roche
- Georgetown UniversityWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | | | - Douglas Piper
- Georgetown UniversityWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | | | | | - Jenna Ryu
- Georgetown UniversityWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | | | | | | | | | - Rachel Barr
- Georgetown UniversityWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Courage ML, Frizzell LM, Walsh CS, Smith M. Toddlers Using Tablets: They Engage, Play, and Learn. Front Psychol 2021; 12:564479. [PMID: 34135793 PMCID: PMC8200401 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.564479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Although very young children have unprecedented access to touchscreen devices, there is limited research on how successfully they operate these devices for play and learning. For infants and toddlers, whose cognitive, fine motor, and executive functions are immature, several basic questions are significant: (1) Can they operate a tablet purposefully to achieve a goal? (2) Can they acquire operating skills and learn new information from commercially available apps? (3) Do individual differences in executive functioning predict success in using and learning from the apps? Accordingly, 31 2-year-olds (M = 30.82 month, SD = 2.70; 18 female) were compared with 29 3-year-olds (M = 40.92 month, SD = 4.82; 13 female) using two commercially available apps with different task and skill requirements: (1) a shape matching app performed across 3 days, and (2) a storybook app with performance compared to that on a matched paper storybook. Children also completed (3) the Minnesota Executive Functioning Scale. An adult provided minimal scaffolding throughout. The results showed: (1) toddlers could provide simple goal-directed touch gestures and the manual interactions needed to operate the tablet (2) after controlling for prior experience with shape matching, toddlers’ increased success and efficiency, made fewer errors, decreased completion times, and required less scaffolding across trials, (3) they recognized more story content from the e-book and were less distracted than from the paper book, (4) executive functioning contributed unique variance to the outcome measures on both apps, and (5) 3-year-olds outperformed 2-year-olds on all measures. The results are discussed in terms of the potential of interactive devices to support toddlers’ learning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary L Courage
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Lynn M Frizzell
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Colin S Walsh
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Megan Smith
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Tsuji S, Fiévét AC, Cristia A. Toddler word learning from contingent screens with and without human presence. Infant Behav Dev 2021; 63:101553. [PMID: 33744672 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2021.101553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
While previous studies have documented that toddlers learn less well from passive screens than from live interaction, the rise of interactive, digital screen media opens new perspectives, since some work has shown that toddlers can learn similarly well from a human present via video chat as from live exposure. The present study aimed to disentangle the role of human presence from other aspects of social interactions on learning advantages in contingent screen settings. We assessed 16-month-old toddlers' fast mapping of novel words from screen in three conditions: in-person, video chat, and virtual agent. All conditions built on the same controlled and scripted interaction. In the in-person condition, toddlers learned two novel word-object associations from an experimenter present in the same room and reacting contingently to infants' gaze direction. In the video chat condition, the toddler saw the experimenter in real time on screen, while the experimenter only had access to the toddler's real-time gaze position as captured by an eyetracker. This setup allowed contingent reactivity to the toddler's gaze while controlling for any cues beyond these instructions. The virtual agent condition was programmed to follow the infant's gaze, to smile, and to name the object with the same parameters as the experimenter in the other conditions. After the learning phase, all toddlers were tested on their word recognition in a looking-while-listening paradigm. Comparisons against chance revealed that toddlers showed above-chance word learning in the in-person group only. Toddlers in the virtual agent group showed significantly worse performance than those in the in-person group, while performance in the video chat group overlapped with the other two groups. These results confirm that in-person interaction leads to best learning outcomes even in the absence of rich social cues. They also elucidate that contingency is not sufficient either, and that in order for toddlers to learn from interactive digital media, more cues to social agency are required.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sho Tsuji
- The University of Tokyo, Japan; Laboratoire de Sciences Cognitives et Psycholinguistique, Departement d'Etudes Cognitives, ENS, EHESS, CNRS, PSL University, France.
| | - Anne-Caroline Fiévét
- Laboratoire de Sciences Cognitives et Psycholinguistique, Departement d'Etudes Cognitives, ENS, EHESS, CNRS, PSL University, France
| | - Alejandrina Cristia
- Laboratoire de Sciences Cognitives et Psycholinguistique, Departement d'Etudes Cognitives, ENS, EHESS, CNRS, PSL University, France
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Choi K, Kirkorian HL, Pempek TA. Touchscreens for Whom? Working Memory and Age Moderate the Impact of Contingency on Toddlers' Transfer From Video. Front Psychol 2021; 12:621372. [PMID: 33716887 PMCID: PMC7943612 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.621372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Toddlers exhibit poor transfer between video and real-world contexts. Contingently responsive video such as that found in touchscreen apps appears to assist transfer for some toddlers but not others. This study investigated the extent to which toddlers' working memory moderates the impact of contingency on toddler's transfer of learning from video. Toddlers (24–36 months; N = 134) watched a hiding event on either (a) contingent video that advanced only after touch input or (b) non-contingent video that proceeded automatically. Toddlers then searched for a corresponding object on a felt board. Additionally, toddlers' working memory (WM) was assessed. Findings indicate WM and age moderated the impact of contingency on transfer: Contingency decreased transfer in younger children while increasing transfer among older children. However, this was only true for children with relatively low WM. Contingency had little impact on transfer among children with relatively high WM, regardless of age. Results from this study suggest that WM is one specific moderator that predicts whether toddlers are likely to learn from contingent vs. non-contingent video, yet WM does not operate in isolation. Together, these findings underscore the importance of considering multiple child characteristics when identifying the optimal conditions for toddlers' learning from symbolic media.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Koeun Choi
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Heather L Kirkorian
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Tiffany A Pempek
- Department of Psychology, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Strouse GA, Samson JE. Learning From Video: A Meta‐Analysis of the Video Deficit in Children Ages 0 to 6 Years. Child Dev 2020; 92:e20-e38. [DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
|
14
|
Westby C. Screen Time and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Folia Phoniatr Logop 2020; 73:233-240. [PMID: 32229733 DOI: 10.1159/000506682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research is increasingly raising concerns regarding the negative consequences of children's use of screens. SUMMARY This article reviews the literature on the benefits and risks of screen time with attention to explaining possible reasons that children with autism are more at risk for the negative effects of screen time. Based on the science of learning literature, a framework for choosing appropriate digital media for children with autism is described. The 3-component framework considers the characteristics of the child, the context in which digital media are used, and the content of the media. Key Message: Using the framework, the speech-language pathologist will be better able to select appropriate digital media content for children with autism that is engaging (while not being distracting), encourages the child to be actively involved with the media, is meaningful in the child's life, and incorporates social interactions with others.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carol Westby
- Bilingual Multicultural Services, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA,
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Tombeau Cost K, Korczak D, Charach A, Birken C, Maguire JL, Parkin PC, Szatmari P. Association of Parental and Contextual Stressors With Child Screen Exposure and Child Screen Exposure Combined With Feeding. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e1920557. [PMID: 32022883 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.20557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Parents may use screen exposure or screen exposure combined with feeding for infants and toddlers to alleviate their own stress. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of individual and contextual stressors with child screen exposure (CSE) and CSE combined with feeding (CSE+F) in children aged 7 to 18 months as measured by parent-reported use and variation in quantity of CSE and CSE+F. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cross-sectional, population-based study drew parent-child participants from TARGet Kids, a network of primary health care research settings throughout Toronto, Ontario, Canada, between November 1, 2011, and July 31, 2018. The included children were aged 7 to 18 months. Exclusion criteria were health conditions affecting growth, acute conditions, chronic conditions, severe developmental delay, and families who were unable to communicate in the English language. Data were analyzed from April 1, 2019, to July 31, 2019. EXPOSURES Parenting stress, child age, child negative affectivity, family living arrangements, and family income were assessed with parent-completed questionnaires. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was CSE and the variation in CSE, which represented the amount of background and engaged use of screens (television, videos or DVDs, video games, computers, and mobile devices) in a typical week. The secondary outcome was CSE+F, which represented the frequency of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack consumption during screen exposure in a typical week. Both CSE and CSE+F were assessed with the parent-completed Nutrition and Health Questionnaire; Infant Behavior Questionnaire, Revised Very Short; and Parenting Stress Index, Short Form. RESULTS The final sample size was 1085 children for the analysis of CSE and 1083 children for the analysis of CSE+F. Among 914 respondents, the children's mean (SD) age was 11.6 (2.3) months, and 478 (52.3%) were male. Among 910 respondents, 839 (92.2%) were mothers, with a mean (SD) age among 873 respondents of 34.4 (4.2) years. In a typical week, 581 of 779 children (74.6%) were reported to have any CSE, and 321 of 874 children (36.7%) had some CSE+F. Higher parenting stress levels (odds ratio [OR], 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.02; P = .04) and older child age (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.01-2.03; P = .04) were associated with CSE. Higher parenting stress levels (incidence rate [IR], 1.00; 95% CI, 1.00-1.01; P = .002) and lower household income (IR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.10-1.45; P = .01) were associated with increased CSE. Older child age (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.35-2.38; P < .001) and lower household income (OR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.72-3.74; P < .001) were associated with CSE+F. Lower household income (IR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.03-1.42; P = .02) was associated with increased CSE+F. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study found that parenting stress, income, and child age were associated with CSE, and child age and household income were associated with CSE+F. Given these findings, interventions to improve parental coping mechanisms may decrease child screen exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Daphne Korczak
- Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alice Charach
- Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Catherine Birken
- Division of Paediatric Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Sick Kids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jonathon L Maguire
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patricia C Parkin
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Sick Kids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Paediatric Outcomes Research Team, Division of Paediatric Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter Szatmari
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|