ABSTRACT
Mobile phones and digital/video media are a part of our children's everyday lives. Developed when TVs were the only screen on offer, this guidance has long been out of date. Excessive TV or screen time has consistently been linked with obesity. Parents' concerns around screen time often centre around brain development. The use of a screen in and of itself is not intrinsically negative. In contrast to desktop and laptop computers, touchscreen tablets provide a more intuitive interface that is easier for young children to navigate. The key characteristic of the tablet, the use of finger touch on screen, seems to appeal to young children but also meets their learning needs. Young children, over the age of two, can learn effectively using apps on touch screen devices. Research suggests that young children learn less well from the screen than they do from real life.
