Association Between Screen Time Before the Age of 2 and Preschool Cognitive Development

Science argues that a toddler is expected to speak about at least 50 clear words by the age of two. However, infants’ language delay and inattention have become a phenomenon globally. The phenomenon has attracted the attention of researchers worldwide to explore the factors and their negative impact on toddlers and preschoolers. Many researchers have proven that early screen exposure can cause language delay and inattention problems while language development is an indicator of brain development. The objective of this study is to explore the association between infant heavy exposure to child-directed programs and language delay and inattention at preschool age. Eleven preschoolers participated in this qualitative study in Erbil city. The findings of this study are that both the duration of infant exposure to screens and the media type contribute to language delay and inattention in preschool-aged toddlers and children. Increased infant exposure for 2+ in a day to child-directed programs such as COCO Melon from 0-2 years old seems to be directly associated with language delay, especially for infants with limited social interaction. However, infant exposure for 3+ in a day to child-directed programs between 0-2 years old is associated with inattention at 2 and preschool age.