HOW MUCH screen time should young children enjoy? The Government has now issued new guidance on this topic – and an East London professor’s research has contributed to the findings.
Professor Sam Wass, Director of the Institute for the Science of Early Years and Youth at UEL, has been researching how children respond to screen-watching – and his findings fed in to the Government’s new guidance.
Professor Wass explained, “Children’s screen use in the early years is changing rapidly, not just in how much they watch, but in the type of content they engage with. Young brains process sights and sounds very differently from adults, and early experiences can have lasting effects on attention, learning and emotional wellbeing. Guidance like this helps families make informed choices about media use, supporting healthy development and stronger family connections. This is an area where our understanding is changing fast, and where small changes can make a big difference.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “My government will not leave parents to face this battle alone” – which does sound rather like a threat.
The new guidance is available for free on the Best Start in Life website, where simple guidance is accompanied by a cute pink brain, set in a purple background, highlights the guidance for different ages.
●For government guidance a glance, go to: Best Start in Life
●Read more about it: Council celebrates outstanding Ofsted of Children’s Services Sense helps deaf-blind children in Bangladesh