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Rebecca Berlin's avatar

Laura's comment is so interesting. So much of the amazing research that Dr. Goodwin shared is about learning from apps as that is what the research has been focused on. However, this substitution factor is important. Because kids are spending more time on screens there are things that they are not doing such as playing outside, looking/reading books, interacting with peers/friends/adults in their life, and playing with "open-ended" toys.

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Dr. Cara Goodwin, PhD's avatar

Great points and something I hope researchers look more into in the future!

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Laura Patranella's avatar

The big question with all of the apps is what are they replacing? Toddlers moving and counting blocks with a caregiver is probably more impactful than on an app.

That being said it's great to have them! My son loved the Teach Your Monster apps by the Osborne Foundation. App is paid but at least not a subscription.

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Annie Karabell's avatar

I share that concern, too. And we don't have long-term studies on app use in toddlers, do we?

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Dr. Cara Goodwin, PhD's avatar

Nothing long term yet. The trouble with high quality research is it can take 7-10 years from beginning to publication.

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Laura Patranella's avatar

Which is to say nothing of how long it takes for any kind of consensus! Anecdotally, teachers have seen a huge drop in scissor skills and increase in pencil grip issues. Important motor skills that are developed during toddlerhood/Pre-K/Kinder. Which I think gets into the issue of what activities the app has replaced.

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Dr. Cara Goodwin, PhD's avatar

I hear the same thing from teachers and Occupational Therapists!

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Jennifer Shonkoff's avatar

I completely agree Laura! The communication opportunities embedded in those simple interactions build in complexity over time, and become integral for learning how to compromise and negotiate, not to mention build perspective taking.

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Dr. Cara Goodwin, PhD's avatar

Learning to compromise, negotiate, and perspective taking are all such important foundational skills!

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Dr. Cara Goodwin, PhD's avatar

Laura, That is an excellent point. We know that all children but especially toddlers need to explore the world through movement and interacting with objects in their environment. And the more this interaction occurs in relationship with others is best! Thank you for you comment

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Danna Jaber's avatar

Great article! I think the research about some apps overtaxing children's attention and executive functioning skills is so interesting and something I would've never thought of. I also love that you included a list of apps! I'm sure many parents will find this article to be a great resource to them :)

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Isabelle Mathewes's avatar

The app versus video question is so interesting, especially the idea of apps being too demanding/complicated for children to properly absorb information from. It makes me wonder if that's at all relevant to videos, even if there's not much evidence to support the idea of TV being "overstimulating." I really hope future research looks more into comparing apps and television--I'd love a more robust answer!

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