Children who use computers, tablets or smartphones every day have BETTER working memory and early literacy scores than if they hardly ever use them, new research shows
- Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development carried out research
- The differences in memory outcomes were far more pronounced in girls
- There was a forty four point difference for girls who used a device once a week
Children who use digital devices on a daily basis have a better working memory than those who don’t with the biggest difference seen in girls.
A report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) looked at five and six-year-olds and found those who also used a digital device even once a week had a higher working memory than those of children who never or hardly ever used one.
‘The working memory outcomes of children who used a digital device every day (34 points) or at least once a week (39 points) but not every day were significantly higher than those of children who never or hardly ever used one, even after accounting for socioeconomic status,’ The International Early Learning and Child Well-being Study (IELS) said.
The study showed a 44-point difference between outcomes for girls who used a device once a week, and those who never or hardly ever used one
There was a significant difference between male and females.
The study showed a 44-point difference between outcomes for girls who used a device once a week, and those who never or hardly ever used one.
There was ‘no significant differences’ in outcomes based on the frequency boys used a device.
Based on available data more than 39 percent of children in England, aged five and six, used a desktop or laptop computer, tablet device or smartphone every day.
‘The working memory outcomes of children who used a digital device every day (34 points) or at least once a week (39 points) but not every day were significantly higher than those of children who never or hardly ever used one according to a report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
A further 46 per cent used a device at least once a week, while 9 per cent did so at least once a month and 6 per cent never or hardly ever used such devices.
Caroline Sharp, research director at the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), said: ‘The findings suggest that moderate use of computers, tablets and smartphones is appropriate for five-year-olds, providing it does not get in the way of other valuable activities between a parent and their child, such as having a conversation and reading them bedtime stories.
‘Moderate use of around one to three times a month was associated with the highest levels of emergent literacy.’