Effects of Media Use on School Readiness

In recent years, media use has become increasingly pervasive in early childhood. Now more than ever, young children have access to screens that can remove them from the here‐and‐now and transport them with near immediacy to another world. Ever‐increasing accessibility to electronic screen‐based media might mean children are spending more time engaging with screen‐based media than ever before, which can have important implications for child development. Several leading health organizations have recommended parents of young children limit children's screen time to less than 1–2 hours per day to optimize psychosocial, behavioral, and academic development; however, the average child across much of the Western world falls on the upper end of this recommendation. This entry reviews evidence that largely suggests negative associations between media use and child school readiness skills. It also highlights potential moderating roles of the content with which children engage and the context in which they engage. Recommendations for parents and educators are discussed.