Study: Type of Media Children Consume Is More Important Than Screen Time
A new study from The Ohio State University has revealed that when it comes to learning, the type of media children consume is more critical than the amount of time they spend in front of screens. Conducted by the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, the study found that about 12% of the media consumed by first graders was educational. Children who engaged with more educational content read more books and spent less total time on screens.
Lead researcher Rebecca Dore emphasized that high-quality educational content has positive effects on children’s learning and development. The study showed that access to educational media was independent of socioeconomic status and that girls consumed more educational content than boys. Dore explained that this difference may be due to girls tending to prefer relationship-focused content, while boys are more drawn to action-oriented content.
The study also found that nearly half of the educational TV and video content most used by first graders came from PBS. However, it warned that budget cuts could make access more difficult, especially for low-income families. Parent Jaclyn Dynia stated that she limits her children’s screen time to educational programs and games, making use of PBS and Common Sense Media. The study’s findings offered a reassuring message to parents, showing that using educational media does not increase children’s total screen time—in fact, it reduces it.