in_the_media

Kids need "active engagement," not screen time

Media Outlet: 

Philadelphia Magazine

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently warned against screen time for children under age two. Plenty of experts agree that this applies to iPhones and iPads as well. Temple psychologist Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, who specializes in how kids acquire language as well as in how play aids learning, says kids need "active engagement" to learn best, and that poking at a screen doesn't count. She says our over-reliance on gadgets can lead to kids with fewer executive function skills — less ability to focus, shorter attention spans, lousy memories.