Parents' time on the phone affects children's language skills

A new study published in the scientific journal Child Development by the University of Texas (USA) looked at how parents' use of smartphones while caring for their newborns affects their interactions and long-term speech development, according to The Bump news site.

Illustration photo: REUTERS

Data from the experiment showed that when using phones, parents talked to their children 16% less on average. With just 1 to 2 minutes of phone use, the researchers saw a major disruption in their interactions with their children, reducing their children's speaking ability by 26%.

Based on the observed average of 4.4 hours of phone use per day, it's easy to see how these interruptions can add up to a huge impact.

Study authors Dr. Miriam Mikhelson and Dr. Kaya de Barbaro were unable to identify the specific factors driving the link between parental phone use and reduced speech input or the long-term impact on language learning. So the researchers are simply encouraging parents to pay more attention to phone use and how it might affect their children.

The authors told the Society for Research in Child Development that infants need consistent care and timely response to their needs, which can be more difficult than the comfort of a smartphone.

“However, some parents may not be able to turn off or put away their phones because of work obligations or other responsibilities they have,” the scholars explain.

The study also recommends that parents be honest with themselves about how their smartphones are affecting them. Being aware of this is an important first step in improving the quality of parenting.