Research on Tablet Use and Toddlers’ Attention, Language Acquisition, and Behavioral Development

A study published in JAMA Network examined toddlers aged 18 to 32 months engaging with either real toys or various types of tablet content. This tablet content included video viewing, playing with a digital toy, or playing a commercial game.

Results showed that toddlers playing commercial tablet games were less responsive to joint attention prompts and slower to respond to behavioral requests, especially as they got older. It also found that those with higher home media use may reduce their ability to engage in shared attention (meaning, they were less likely to focus on the same object or activity together).

Conversely, playing with real toys was linked to better language skills in toddlers. These findings align with concerns from previous research about excessive screen time’s association with attention problems, language delay, and social-emotional concerns in children.

Understanding the Research

This cohort study (a type of observational study) involved 63 toddlers and was done to understand joint attention and behavioral responses to media use. The researchers collected data from March 2021 to September 2022, with analysis spanning January 2023 to May 2024.

As for eligibility, the participants were healthy, full-term, English-exposed toddlers with some touchscreen device experience. There were no known developmental concerns.

To gather data, the researchers used the following:

• A developmental screening tool
• Report from their parent or primary caregiver
• The Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 (ASQ)

The results were as follows:

Toddlers’ responses to joint attention prompts

Playing tablet games reduces toddlers' ability to share attention with others compared to playing with real toys. This decline was more noticeable as toddlers got older. It is possible that the type of games, especially exciting commercial ones, might negatively affect how they interact socially.

Toddlers’ responses to behavioral requests

When it comes to responding to requests, male toddlers were less likely to share or give up the tablet during games compared to female toddlers. This matches earlier research showing that boys tend to have more tantrums when it's time to take away a tablet than when playing with regular toys.

Exciting tablet games may not help toddlers learn to be flexible or cooperative. Social interactions are necessary to develop their language skills, which are hindered by focusing on highly stimulating tablet content.

Practical Strategies for Parents and Caregivers

Given that tablet use continues to increase nowadays, parents and caregivers can use these strategies to support their toddlers’ language acquisition while navigating the challenges of tablet use:

Make real playtime a priority

Set aside specific times each day for unstructured play where they can explore, build, and interact with others. You could provide a variety of toys, such as building blocks, art supplies, dolls, or action figures. These will give toddlers opportunities to create stories and engage in role-playing.

Set clear boundaries around screen time

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children younger than 18 months should not use media, except for video chatting with family and friends. However, if you introduce digital media to kids aged 18 to 24 months, choose high-quality content and watch it together rather than letting them use it alone.

Among children aged 2 to 5, it’s best to limit screen time to one hour per day and focus on high-quality programs. Here’s a handout on Screen Time Tips For Parents And Families and a handout on How To Self-Regulate Screen Time.

Surround toddlers with books and read together daily

Pick colorful, interactive, and age-appropriate books that capture your toddler’s interest. You might want to select books that reflect daily activities — such as going to the zoo or playing with friends — to encourage shared attention and conversation.

Here’s a great tip: Choose books with catchy rhymes and repetitive phrases to make reading enjoyable and help toddlers anticipate words.

Check out this list of 15 Best Social Skills Books.

The researchers also noted that tablet games can be very exciting, but these are especially concerning if kids are using screens instead of playing with real toys, spending time with their parents, or interacting with other children.

For more resources to support both children and teens, we recommend visiting our Social Skills Worksheets.