Education • 1h ago
Three-quarters of nine-month-olds in England have ‘daily screen time’
**Screen Time for Babies in Nigeria: What Do We Know?**
In England, a recent study has shed light on the screen time habits of nine-month-old babies. The research, conducted by the Education Policy Institute, found that a whopping 75% of these infants are exposed to screens on a daily basis. While this might not be surprising in today's digital age, the study provides valuable insights into the impact of screen time on these young minds.
The study, which involved over 8,000 families in England, discovered that the average screen time for nine-month-olds is a mere 41 minutes per day. However, a small group of babies – just 2% – are exposed to screens for more than three hours a day. Interestingly, the study found that parents from different income levels and backgrounds make similar choices when it comes to screen time for their babies.
The research also looked at how screen time affects other aspects of a baby's life. It found that babies with no siblings are more likely to be exposed to screens, while those with four or more siblings are less likely to be exposed. Additionally, babies from single-parent households spend slightly more time in front of screens – an average of 47 minutes per day – compared to those from two-parent households.
What's most concerning, however, is the relationship between screen time and other enriching activities. The study found that babies who spend excessive time in front of screens are less likely to engage in activities like being read to, sung to, or taken on trips outside.
In Nigeria, where screen time is increasingly becoming a norm, these findings are worth considering. As policymakers and parents, we need to strike a balance between allowing our babies to benefit from digital technology and ensuring they engage in healthy, active play. Rather than demonizing screens, we should focus on using them to enhance child development and parent-baby bonding.
The Department for Education in England is set to release guidelines for parents on screen time for children under five, and it's likely that similar guidelines will be developed in Nigeria in the future. For now, parents can take a cue from the study and aim to limit their baby's screen time to 41 minutes or less per day, while encouraging other enriching activities that promote their cognitive, emotional, and physical development.