Early Screen Exposure Linked to Later Academic Challenges

A new study shows that children who spend more time in front of screens at ages one and six tend to perform worse academically and exhibit weaker working memory several years later. The research highlights that infancy and the start of formal schooling are particularly sensitive periods during which screen habits can have lasting effects on cognitive development. While the study does not prescribe exact limits, it suggests that parents and educators should be more vigilant about screen use during these early years, as it may shape learning outcomes and memory capacity well into later childhood.