Screen time linked to poor speech development in under-fives, say ministers as parents offered new guidance

Parents will be offered government guidance on screen time for under-fives as research links prolonged viewing to poor speech development.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is to announce on Monday that the advice will be developed with input from parents, children and early years practitioners.

Writing in the Sunday Times, Ms Phillipson said: “Research shows that by age two, almost all children – around 98% – are watching screens such as mobiles, tablets, and TV every day, during a critical period for language development.”

Government research, released to coincide with the announcement, suggests that the use of screens, including mobile devices and televisions, is linked to poorer language development in the under-twos.

The survey of 4,758 parents showed that children with the highest screen time – around five hours a day – could say significantly fewer words than those at the other end of the scale, who watched for around 44 minutes.

“Parents, teachers and nursery workers talk about children arriving at nursery and school and finding it harder to hold conversations, focus, or engage in learning,” Ms Phillipson added.

It is reported that the guidance is likely to suggest using screens as part of an activity like storytime or with educational games.

The guidance is also expected to be accompanied by lessons for parents on early years development, including speech and language.

The topic of whether screentime – the amount of time spent daily using screen-based technology – is actually harmful for children is controversial.

In October, the Princess of Wales warned that smartphones and computer screens were creating “an epidemic of disconnection” within families.

And Peter Kyle, the then technology secretary, told Sky News in July he was considering a two-hour daily limit per social media platform for children to tackle “compulsive” screen time, although the policy was never implemented.

In Australia, a law came into force in December to ban under-16s from having social media accounts. Although Sky News has shown that some young people are getting around the restrictions.

It is an attempt to stamp out cyberbullying and online addiction, and several MPs have suggested the UK should copy the policy.

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Data from the children’s commissioner for England, released in April, revealed that 90% of secondary schools and 99.8% of primary schools already have policies in place that stop the use of mobile phones during the day.

The terms of reference for the national working group to examine guidance on screen time will be published on Monday.

The group will be led by children’s commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza and scientific adviser Professor Russell Viner, who are expected to release the first guidance on the issue in April.

Ms Phillipson said: “I want this to be shaped with parents, not dictated to them, and we’ll be using our engagement sessions over the next few weeks to understand exactly what they want the guidance to include.

“This is about offering clear, practical advice on how screens fit alongside the everyday activities that matter most in the early years, including talking, playing and reading together.”