New Study Challenges Common Assumptions About Screen Time For Kids

A Finnish study published in Pediatric Exercise Science challenges common assumptions about screen time and cognitive performance in children. Surprisingly, children who spent more time on screens as they grew up tended to demonstrate better cognitive processing during adolescence. Rather than viewing screen time as entirely detrimental, researchers suggest that it could actually enhance cognitive abilities when used for active thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and learning.

Doctoral Researcher Petri Jalanko from the University of Jyvaskyla advises teachers and parents to encourage children to engage in screen activities that promote these cognitive benefits. He emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between physical activity and screen time that fosters active thinking.

The relationship between physical activity and cognition proved to be more complex. For girls, higher levels of light-intensity physical activity since childhood were linked to better working memory during adolescence. Boys who participated in guided physical activity throughout their childhood and into adolescence showed improved working memory as they grew up.

Interestingly, unsupervised physical activity appeared to have an unexpected association with better cognitive processing in adolescents. Specifically, lower levels of self-reported unsupervised exercise were linked to enhanced cognitive performance. However, physical activity and sedentary time measured using heart rate and movement tracking devices did not show any significant connection to cognitive processing.

The researchers speculate that these devices, while effective in measuring movement and physiological activity, may not accurately capture the specific nature of a person's activity during different periods of physical engagement. The findings were published in the journal Pediatric Exercise Science.