- The weekly Epidemiological Bulletin looks at children aged 3 to 6 on Tuesday and their relationship to the screens.
- This case-control study in Brittany suggests that brats who consume screens (television, tablet, smartphone, computer, etc.) in the morning, without talking to their parents, are six times more likely to have problems. of language.
- If the dangers of screens on brains under construction are increasingly studied, few studies look at the consequences depending on the content.
In recent years, the debate has raged on the screens. Some doctors warn about the harmful effects, on the health and learning of the little ones, of these ubiquitous and very practical objects (often used as free babysitters). The World Health Organization published a press release in April 2019 recommending that all screens should be avoided for children aged 1 year, and to limit them for older children.
And if for some, it seems obvious that they nibble on the brains of children, for others, nothing is yet scientifically proven. This is why the study published this Tuesday by Santé Publique France could interest more than one parent. In fact, she examines the links between exposure to screens and language disorders.
Screens multiply the risk of language impairment by three
This survey is based on the observation of 276 children between 3.5 and 6.5 years in Ille-et-Villaine (Brittany). Among them, 167 were diagnosed with primary language disorders (dysphasia, stuttering, lack of vocabulary ... not linked to an illness or deafness) and 109 witnesses showed no delay. The parents detailed the consumption of screens of their offspring and the language disorders. “During a typical school week, 44.3% of cases [children diagnosed] and 22% of controls [children undiagnosed] were exposed to screens the morning before school. In both groups, they were alone facing the screen 40% of the time, ”said the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin.
"This case-control study shows that a child who is exposed to the screens in the morning would be three times more at risk of developing language disorders," emphasizes Manon Collet, general practitioner and co-author of the file. And for those who, in addition, would not speak with their parents after consuming screens, the risk would be six times greater. »Why use the conditional? Because if links are revealed, there is no causal link. For this, it would be necessary to compare the acquisition of language in children exposed to screens and others completely spared from birth to their 6 years. Not easy.
Hypervigilance and exhaustion
How can these conclusions be explained, especially when certain games or programs promise parents that their children will become bilingual in English in a few clicks? "To integrate, the brain needs repeated learning over time, intensive and that requires effort," insists Grégoire Borst, professor of developmental psychology at Paris Descartes University and director of LaPsyDÉ (CNRS). In addition, "the exhibition in the morning will exhaust the child's concentration, less apt for acquisitions," adds Manon Collet, without being able to say that watching TV in the evening would be less serious. He will respond reflexively to this very important stimulus, which has nothing to do with voluntary attention in front of a teacher. The adult is able to control this reflex, not the toddler, he is absorbed, hypervigilance, excited. »Even before entering the classroom, this kindergarten student who watched a program therefore has a capacity for concentration close to zero ...
Third track: as we have said, almost one child in two watches alone. However, to learn, he needs interaction and joint attention (that a person shows him an object - for example a piano - by associating it with the word). "Perhaps the problem is not the screen, but the lack of interaction with the parents," nuances Grégoire Borst.
Support for screens
Other studies had already alerted on these dangers. They insisted on two important points: the earlier and longer the children consume screens, the more difficult it would be for them to acquire vocabulary. "But most of these studies are American," says the doctor. We could therefore say that our way of life is different. However, this French study, representative of our society, presents similar results [even if the duration and age of the exposure were not the elements studied]. What changes is that we are interested in the time of exposure, but also in the on-screen accompaniment, ”she insists.
Watching or playing with the child, or failing to debrief with him, therefore seems essential. "It is important to see what he understood and to restore," says Manon Collet. But also to check that the content is appropriate for his age and his personality. I received in consultation a 6 year old child disturbed by a cartoon with firefighters, yet adapted. But he was shocked by a burning house. "
The content issue
Another significant nuance: in general, previous studies were interested in the effects of television. However, today, the proliferation of tablets, smartphones and computers does not spare the eyes of toddlers. Except that watching hours of clips has nothing to do with following an educational program. "It seems absurd to ask the question of exposure to screens in general, because it depends on the content, Grégoire Borst says. If a television program is particularly rich, it is not impossible that it has positive effects on language. A randomized trial thus revealed that the children gained vocabulary by watching Dora the Explorer . "
For the professor of developmental psychology as for Manon Collet, it would be interesting to refine this research to differentiate the uses. "The difficulty today is that we don't have the data to say whether the screens are good or bad," says Grégoire Borst. It is very likely to depend on the type of content and how it is approached. A recent study showed that one of the most explanatory factors for inequalities in academic success is "pedagogy of daily life": "you saw a program, read such a book, I ask you questions, and that becomes a learning situation. " "So rather than advocating the zero screen, he opts for the following idea:" The screens are there, but we can avoid leaving the children alone in front, choose a good program and then talk with them ".
Society
Television, tablet, smartphone ..: "We must associate the use of screens in children with a duration"
Society
Addiction: Spending too much time in front of screens changes children's brains
- Rennes
- Video
- Society
- High-Tech
- Television
- Parents
- Child
- Health