CBS News – Amanda Schupak
“…according to new research, more than one-third of babies are tapping and swiping on smartphones and tablets before they can walk or talk. In a study presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in San Diego, researchers from the pediatrics department of Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia found that 36 percent of kids in a survey had touched or scrolled on a screen before they reached their first birthdays. Fifteen percent had used apps by that time. By age two, the majority of kids were using digital devices, watching TV and playing video games — and more than one-quarter were using mobile devices for at least an hour a day…Pediatrician Laura Jana told CBS News, “Mobile devices, when we’re talking about screens and things, are so new that this is a really important survey that has given us some initial information about just how prevalent the use is in very young ages.” Dr. Jana was particularly concerned about the statistics for children in the zero-to-two-year age range, a key phase of development. “We know that children learn best and their brains develop best with human interactions, not screen interactions,” she said. Additionally, too much screen time could take away from important experiences, such as time spent in active play. This could also continue to drive the worrisome trends of childhood obesity and sleep issues.”(more)