Research on Children and Screens
We found significant evidence that reading is linked to important developmental factors in children, improving their cognition, mental health, and brain structure, which are cornerstones for future learning and well-being.Barbara Sahakian, co-author of "Early-Initiated Childhood Reading for Pleasure: Associations with Better Cognitive Performance, Mental Well-being and Brain Structure in Young Adolescence"
Early Reading from Books and Not Screens Makes Kids Smarter, Less Depressed With Better Brain Structure According to Cambridge Study on Over 10,000 U.S. Adolescents
A study from Cambridge published in the journal Psychological Medicine points to the crucial neurodevelopment period of childhood and the importance of reading books for pleasure.
This study found that reading for 12 hours every week significantly improved brain structure, performance on cognitive tests and the mental health of young adolescents. Interestingly, the mental health benefits did not apply to the adolescents that read for pleasure on screens.
“Further, in the Typically Developing [TD] group, for those who frequently read on screen devices, early Reading for Pleasure [RfP] didn’t show significant negative correlations with dimensional psychopathological symptoms, whereas results in those who usually read printed materials remained robust.”
The study also found increased screen time is significantly positively associated with multiple psychopathological problems such as ADHD, internalizing and externalizing problems and early developmental problems in young adolescents suggesting that RfP can be used as an early intervention to mitigate these problems.
See full study here: Early-initiated childhood reading for pleasure: associations with better cognitive performance, mental well-being and brain structure in young adolescence
Read the press release here: Reading for pleasure early in childhood linked to better cognitive performance and mental wellbeing in adolescence | University of Cambridge
