Abstract
Screen time (ST) is the amount of time per day spent viewing digital screens such as smartphones, tablets, games, television, and computers. The authors examined the relationship between ST in infancy and the child’s neurodevelopment through the literature review and the authors’ data. The results showed that the longer the ST in infancy, the more likely there was a delay in neurodevelopment in the preschool years, especially in the development of language and communication domains. However, we found that : 1) ST is not delayed if it is educational or co‐viewing with parents ; 2) there is no association between ST in infancy and socialization, daily life skill, or motor functions ; 3) outdoor activities reduce the total amount of ST and provide a buffer for the association between ST and neurodevelopment ; and 4) The association between ST and neurodevelopment in infancy may not be causal. Rather, ST in infancy may be a manifestation of delayed neurodevelopment and genetic risk for neurodevelopmental disorders.
