Inserm, NUS Link Screen Time at Ages 1, 1.5 and 6 to Lower Child Scores
Updated
Updated · Earth.com · Jun 23
Inserm, NUS Link Screen Time at Ages 1, 1.5 and 6 to Lower Child Scores
3 articles · Updated · Earth.com · Jun 23
Summary
A 502-child Singapore cohort study found screen exposure at ages 1, 1.5 and 6 remained tied to weaker academic performance after adjusting for family background, with age 1 showing the largest effect.
working memory at age 10.5 followed a narrower pattern: more screen time at ages 1 and 6 predicted poorer results, while exposure at ages 2 and 3 no longer mattered after adjustment.
Average daily screen use rose from about 2.1 hours at age 1 to roughly 3 hours at age 8, exceeding guidance that discourages screens before 18 to 24 months and limits ages 2 to 5 to under an hour.
Cumulative screen time across childhood also tracked with lower academic scores, but the researchers said the observational design cannot prove causation and still needs to test content, device type and parental co-viewing.
Why is a one-year-old's brain uniquely vulnerable to screen time, more so than a two-year-old's?
Can the 'right' kind of screen time actually boost a child's development, or is less always better?
Excessive Screen Time in Infancy and School Entry Doubles Risk of Poor Cognitive Outcomes by Age 8, Major Study Finds
Overview
A major longitudinal study by Inserm and the National University of Singapore, published in June 2026, tracked 1,100 children from birth to age eight to understand how early screen time affects development. By carefully collecting data at different ages, researchers found that too much screen exposure during infancy and at school entry can lead to lasting problems with executive function, language, attention, memory, and academic performance. These findings highlight the importance of following expert guidelines on screen time for young children, as the risks are highest during specific critical periods of development.