1. Toddlers and Touch Screens: The View by a Speech-Language Pathologist
Infants & iPads,
Toddlers and Touch Screens: The View by a
Speech-Language
Pathologist
Char Boshart, M.A., CCC-SLP

2. Touch Screen Devices (TSDs) Provide…
Communication (verbal, print, photos, videos; “Social Media”)
Daily Functional Conveniences
Entertainment (play games; movies)
Information (sometimes we confuse access to information and technology with learning!)
Etc.!
Do you have to be intelligent to Google??? Searching is fast without the element of intelligence.
All served up on the go!
©Char Boshart.com

3. “Social Media Explained”
Twitter I’m eating a #donut
Facebook I like donuts
Instagram Here’s a vintage photo of my donut
YouTube Here I am eating a donut
LinkedIn My skills include donut eating
Pinterest Here’s a donut recipe
Apps: Donut Dazzle; Donut Maker; Donuts Go Crazy
©Char Boshart.com

4. (West Genesee Central School District) ©Char Boshart.com
Here’s a stark fact:
Most American children spend more time consuming electronic media than they do in school.
(West Genesee Central School District)
©Char Boshart.com

5. ©Char Boshart .com

6. IPad Apptivity Seat, Newborn-to-Toddler by Fisher-Price
QUESTION:
“Should TSDs be used during the first year of life?”
YES? NO?
©Char Boshart.com

7. Parent’s Reasoning for TSD Use (it’s changed the parenting landscape!)
Pacifier? Keep calm?
Keep child occupied?
Distraction?
Entertainment?
Developmental Enrichment? Educational Readiness?
More than half of toddlers can use a TSD when they are just ONE year old.
Bottom line….
©Char Boshart.com

8. Oral Speech and Language
Early Language Environment
Development of Executive Functions
Reading and Academic Success
©Char Boshart.com

9. JAMA PEDIATRIC, February, 2016
A Recent Study…
Title: Association of the Type of Toy Used During Play with the Quantity and Quality of Parent-Infant Communication
26 parent-infant pairs (children aged months); took place over 16 months; 15 min. in-home parent-infant play sessions with:
Electronic toys,
Traditional toys, and
Books
By Anna V. Sosa, Phd
JAMA PEDIATRIC, February, 2016
Results…
©Char Boshart.com

10. They Analyzed Minute-by-Minute…
They compared numbers of:
adult words, child vocalizations, conversation turns, parents’ verbal responses to child utterances
Conclusions and Relevance:
“Play with electronic toys is associated with decreased quantity and quality of language input compared with play with books or traditional toys. To promote early language development, play with electronic toys should be discouraged.”
The AAP Recommendations…
©Char Boshart.com

11. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) (first, 1999; second 2011; Oct. 21, 2016)
Shifted primary focus from WHAT is on the screen, to WHO else is with the child
Babies: 18 months and younger: (1/2 hr)
Still say NO SCREENS are BEST, but with one exception: LIVE VIDEO CHAT
Toddlers: 15 months to 2 years: (1 hr)
Treat a video or app LIKE A PICTURE BOOK; if, and only if parents are along side; best if parent interacts with them
Co-View!
©Char Boshart.com

12. (AAP, cont.) Preschoolers: age 2 to 5
“More evidence that they have the ability to transfer knowledge from screens to the real world, including early literacy and math, and positive social and emotional skills and behaviors.”
Strongly prefer two makers of evidence-based children’s educational media: Sesame Workshop and PBS
SesameStreet.org/parents/apps
PBSkids.org/apps/
©Char Boshart.com

13. AAP’s Tips for Parents CommonSenseMedia.org
Set limits; kids need and expect them
Encourage “unplugged” playtime
Be a good role model
Engage in back-and-forth talking time
Create tech-free zones
Don’t use as an emotional pacifier
Make good educational app choices
CommonSenseMedia.org
©Char Boshart.com