SCREEN TIME VS. REAL TIME: AN SLP'S PERSPECTIVE
SCREEN TIME VS. REAL TIME: AN SLP'S PERSPECTIVE ON LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
I'm so excited to bring my friend Onjalique on today to walk us through her feelings around a really hot button topic right now: Screen time!
Onjalique Taylor is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) based in New York. She is the owner of Taylor’d Speech & Language Services™, a private practice that has been serving families for over five years. With a deep passion for helping children, Onjalique is dedicated to using her knowledge and expertise to support and enhance communication skills in young learners.
So, let's turn this one over to Onjalique!
HI ALL!
I’m so excited to share my expertise and personal experiences on the very hot topic of screen time. As a pediatric SLP, one of the most common topics I hear about from parents and educators is the impact of screen time on language development. It’s an important conversation, and one that I’m passionate about because it’s so relevant to the way our children are growing up today.
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I actually DON’T believe in completely eliminating screen time. Screens are a part of our world, and they can be beneficial when used thoughtfully. Don’t believe me? Check out my “3 Ways To Make Screentime Worthwhile” IG Post! I DO believe, however, in limiting screen time and ensuring that it’s balanced with enriched, real-world experiences.
I’ll never forget when my Pokémon obsessed younger brother (about 5yo at the time) was playing a Pokémon card game, and he used the word “obliterate” in a sentence—perfectly and in the right context! I was amazed. I, just 7 years older, asked him where he learned that word. He told me he learned it from watching Pokémon.
Now, I had always thought his focus was on “catching them all” and battling his way to victory, but it turned out that his screen time was doing more than just entertaining him. It was actually increasing his vocabulary and comprehension! Reflecting on this experience taught me that screen time can be beneficial, especially when it’s paired with interactive engagement.
Pros & Cons of Screens for Language Development
Pros:
Increased Vocabulary & Comprehension: As I saw with my brother, children can learn new words and concepts from educational shows and games.
Access to Educational Content: There are fantastic apps and programs designed to teach language skills in a fun and engaging way.
Opportunities for Conversation: If you pause and ask questions during screen time, it can become a valuable opportunity for discussion and narrative building.
Language Modeling: Children can use characters to model language use, social interactions, and even non-verbal communication (i.e. gesturing/pointing/eye gaze).
Cons:
Missed Social Opportunities: Screen time, especially when excessive, can replace opportunities for face-to-face communication and socialization with peers or adults.
Sensory Overstimulation: Too much screen time can lead to sensory overload, which may negatively impact a child’s ability to focus and engage in real-world interactions.
Limited Real-World Exposure: Screens cannot replicate the depth and richness of real-world experiences, where language is learned through direct interaction within the environment.
Now, Let’s Talk About The Importance Of Real-Time Experiences.
Screens can’t replace the benefits that come from interacting with the world around us. Sitting in front of a screen for hours won’t provide the exposure children need for robust language development. Children learn best when they engage with people, whether it’s through play, conversation, or participating in everyday activities.
Real-time experiences provide various benefits for language development.
Contextual Learning: Children learn words and concepts in context, which helps solidify their understanding. For example, talking about fruits and vegetables while at the grocery store helps a child connect the word with the actual object.
Multi-sensory Engagement: Real-world experiences engage all the senses, which enhances learning. Kids see, hear, touch, and sometimes even taste or smell what they’re learning about.
Social Interaction: Interacting with others, whether it’s peers, parents, or even strangers, provides opportunities for practicing language in a variety of settings. As an SLP, I always encourage caregivers to provide opportunities for peer-to-peer engagement. Peer modeling is simply another natural source for language development.
Practical Application: Kids can apply language skills in real-time, such as asking for help, making choices, or describing what they see.
I once worked with a very bright little girl on articulation skills and showed her a picture of a man checking out at the grocery store. I asked her who the lady at the counter was, and she had no idea. I was stunned and almost thought she was kidding. When I brought it up to her parents, they explained, “Oh, that’s because we order groceries online.” Although, ordering groceries online is the new norm, to some, this serves as a perfect example of how much kids can miss out on when they’re not exposed to real-world experiences.
What The Caregiver Can Do
Even something as simple as going to the grocery store can be a rich language-learning opportunity. I’m not talking about luxury trips across the world—although those are always nice (I love a good trip!). I’m speaking of everyday routines, like running errands, going to the bank, dining at your favorite restaurant or simply visiting the park or your local bookstore. These are the moments where kids learn how the world works, and develop the language skills needed to navigate it.
So, while screen time can have its place, it’s essential to balance it with real-world interactions that provide the deep meaningful exposure kids need to thrive in their language development.
A list of some of my fav educational apps and shows can be found on our “3 Ways To Make Screentime Worthwhile” IG Post!
If this got your attention, follow our IG @taylordspeech to discover other hot topics and check out our blogs to learn speech & language tips and tricks!
Talk soon!
Onjalique Taylor M.S. CCC-SLP
Flag this Screen time blog to save for later, I know you'll want to come back to this one, and keep it handy to send it along to your families! ❤️❤️
xx, Abby