My Humble 2 Cents on Screen Time—Especially for Preschoolers with Speech & Language Delays

I’ve been in this field for a LOOOONG time. And I’ve seen a lot of kids playing on screens. More often, I’ve seen them simply staring at screens.

I recently came across some interesting research that didn’t claim to have all the answers (which I appreciate!), but did offer some pretty useful guidelines for parents trying to navigate the very complicated topic of screen time.

First, I’ll share my basic takeaways. Then I’ll link the research from my go-to source for all things speech therapy related!

Takeaway #1: Consider the CONTEXT.

Are you near your child while they’re using a screen? Are you looking at the content together, talking about what’s happening, and encouraging interaction while they use an app or watch a program?

Or maybe they’re watching something with siblings or friends and actually interacting with one another while they watch.

In other words, screen time doesn’t necessarily look the same in every situation.

Takeaway #2: Know the CONTENT.

What is your child actually watching?

Is it fast-paced and full of constant stimulation, or are there pauses that allow time for your child to think, respond, and interact—more like a real-life conversation?

Who created or funds the content? How often are there commercials or ads? Is the content designed to educate your child, entertain your child, or simply keep your child watching?

This particular section of the article linked below was eye-opening for me.

Takeaway #3: Pay attention to your child’s RESPONSE.

Is your preschooler completely transfixed by the screen, or can you ask questions about what they’re doing or watching?

Can they answer you?

Are they moving, talking, laughing, pretending, or interacting with the content—or are they simply glued to it?

As a speech-language pathologist, this is an especially important piece to me. Young children learn language through interaction. They need opportunities to hear language, respond to it, imitate it, ask questions, make comments, and experience the back-and-forth of communication.

Takeaway #4: The CAREGIVER matters, too.

Caregivers have very different feelings about screen time. Some find it to be a necessary and helpful part of the family routine, while others prefer to use it on a very limited basis.

And every family’s circumstances are different.

One of the things I appreciated most about this article is that it didn’t bash screen time or turn it into a black-and-white, right-or-wrong issue. Instead, it gave us a way to think about screen use more thoughtfully—to consider the good, the not-so-good, and how we can make the best choices for our children within a world where screens are simply part of life.

For parents of children who are already struggling with speech and language, I think that thoughtful approach matters even more. We want to make sure screens aren’t replacing the interactions that help language grow.

I hope you’ll follow the link below and read the research for yourself. It educated me, and I’m thankful I took the time to read it. Caroline