Education

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, screen time for young children has skyrocketed, sparking renewed attention on how mobile devices like smartphones and tablets affect their learning, language development, and self-regulation. A recent progress report builds on a 2020 review, diving deeper into the effects of mobile device use on children's cognitive growth. The findings are both fascinating and complex, revealing how interactive apps can boost learning—while excessive or poorly managed screen time may disrupt language skills and emotional regulation.

This research study examined low-income families in Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Virginia recruited as part of a randomized controlled trial of the Family Check-Up, an early childhood family-based intervention.

This article in the American Psychological Association's Journal of Family Psychology shows that parents with lower levels of impulse control and nonverbal intelligence are more likely to endorse the use of physical discipline, such as spanking, in response to their preschool-aged child's misbehavior. Parents low in physiological arousal when at rest report fewer child behavior problems the more they endorse the use of physical discipline.

The mission of the Center on the Developing Child is to drive science-based innovation that achieves breakthrough outcomes for children facing adversity.

https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1603-toddlers-and-self-control-a-survival-guide-for-parents

http://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/ptn/2014/12/self-control.aspx