Displacement of peer play by screen time: associations with toddler development

Background Young children’s digital media use may adversely affect child development, but the mechanisms of this association are unclear. We evaluated whether screen time displaces reading and peer play time, which are subsequently associated with child development. Methods When children were 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months, mothers ( n = 3894) reported the time their children spent on screens, being read to by an adult, and playing with other children. At 36 months, mothers completed the Ages and Stages Questionnaire©, an assessment of their child’s developmental status. Results In unadjusted models, screen time from 12 to 36 months was not associated with reading but was associated with less time engaging in play with peers. In adjusted models accounting for developmental delay at 12 months, family and child characteristics, screen time was not directly associated with developmental delay. More peer play time was associated with a lower likelihood of developmental delay, and having higher screen time increased the likelihood of developmental delay indirectly through reduced peer play time. Results were similar for developmental delays in fine and gross motor, communication, and personal-social domains. Conclusions Screen time in early childhood did not displace reported time spent reading, but did displace reported peer play time. Impact Among children 1–3 years of age, more screen time was associated with less time engaged in peer play but not less reading with an adult. Having higher screen time from 1 to 3 years increased the odds of developmental delay indirectly through reduced peer play time. Ensuring that children engage in adequate time playing with peers may offset the negative associations between screen time and child development.