Talking Tech: Finding Fun in the Screen-Time Speech Balance Game

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In today's digital age, screens are an integral part of our lives, and they have also become a significant part of our children's lives. While technology offers many benefits, including educational apps and interactive content, it's important for parents to strike a balance between screen time and other activities, especially when it comes to speech and language development in children.

The Impact of Screen Time on Speech and Language Development

Excessive screen time can affect various aspects of a child's development, including their speech and language skills. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) acknowledges that while technology can provide valuable learning opportunities, it's essential to be mindful of its potential impact on communication development.

According to ASHA, here are some key considerations:

•Until 18 months of age: Limit screen use to video chatting with an adult (e.g., a parent who is away).
•Between 18 and 24 months: Screen time should be limited to watching educational programming with a caregiver.
•For children aged 2-5: Limit non-educational screen time to about 1 hour per weekday and allow up to 3 hours on weekend days for non-educational screen time.

Delayed Speech Development

One concern with excessive screen time is that it can displace activities crucial for speech development, such as face-to-face interactions and play. These interactions provide opportunities for children to learn and practice language skills.

Reduced Vocabulary

ASHA suggests that excessive screen time can limit a child's exposure to diverse vocabulary and language models. Children often learn new words and language patterns through real-life interactions and storytelling.

Attention Issues

Excessive screen time can lead to attention issues, which may affect a child's ability to focus on language and communication tasks. It's crucial to find a balance that allows for varied activities that support language development.

Striking the Right Balance

While it's essential to be cautious about screen time, it's not necessary to eliminate it entirely. Instead, parents can take a balanced approach to ensure their child's healthy development:

•Set Screen Time Limits: Follow the age-appropriate screen time limits recommended by ASHA and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
•Choose High-Quality Content: Select educational and age-appropriate content for your child. Look for apps, games, and shows that promote learning, creativity, and language development.
•Encourage Interactive Screen Time: Engage with your child during screen time. Discuss what they are watching or playing, ask questions, and encourage them to explain or narrate the content.
•Prioritize Face-to-Face Interaction: Allocate time for face-to-face interactions, storytelling, and play. These activities are crucial for speech and language development.
•Be a Role Model: Set a positive example by managing your own screen time and engaging in meaningful conversations with your child.
•Turn off screens during family meals and outings.
•Learn about and use parental controls.
•Avoid using screens as pacifiers, babysitters, or to stop tantrums.
•Turn off screens and remove them from bedrooms 30-60 minutes before bedtime.

Conclusion

In the digital age, screen time is a reality for most families. However, with mindful management, parents can ensure that screen time supports, rather than hinders, their child's speech and language development. By striking a balance between screen time and other activities, parents can foster strong communication skills in their children.
For more information and guidance on speech and language development, consult ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) and consider reaching out to a speech-language pathologist for personalized advice and support.

References:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). (2020). Screen Time for Young Children.
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). Media and Young Minds.
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2022). Beyond Screen Time: A Parent's Guide to Media Use.

Debunking 10 Autism Myths: What Parents Should Know

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1. Myth: Vaccines cause autism.
   Fact: No, vaccines do not cause autism. Autism is influenced by genetics and other factors, not vaccines.
2. Myth: Kids with autism can't feel empathy.
   Fact: Kids with autism feel empathy differently, but they do care about others' feelings.
3. Myth: Autism is something kids grow out of.
   Fact: Autism is a lifelong condition; it doesn't go away as kids get older.
4. Myth: All autistic kids have extraordinary talents.
   Fact: Not every autistic child has exceptional skills; abilities vary widely.
5. Myth: Autism only affects boys.
   Fact: Girls can have autism too, but it's more common in boys.
6. Myth: Autistic kids are always antisocial.
   Fact: Some autistic kids struggle with social interactions, but they often want friends.
7. Myth: Autism is a mental illness.
   Fact: Autism is a way our brains are wired, not a mental illness.
8. Myth: All autistic kids have low intelligence.
   Fact: Some have intellectual disabilities, but many are very smart.
9. Myth: You can cure autism.
   Fact: Autism is not a disease; there's no cure. Early help and therapy can make a big difference.
10. Myth: Autistic kids can't lead independent lives.
    Fact: With support and understanding, many autistic kids can live fulfilling and independent lives.

Can My Child Learn Multiple Languages at Once?

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Parents obviously want nothing but the best for their children. Thus, it is normal for parents to be concerned about possibly challenging their children too much. One of the common questions that I receive is whether children get confused or experience speech/language delays when they are exposed to multiple languages. The reality is that this is not a concern as research has clearly demonstrated that bilingualism has major benefits for children.

It Is Common for Children to Learn Multiple Languages

Around the world, it is incredibly common for children to learn multiple languages at once. In fact, the brains of children are geared quite well to being able to learn different languages at the same time – much better than the brains of adults.
In fact, I am a trilingual speech pathologist. I have worked with many parents whose children may be learning multiple languages in the home and at school. For example, a child may learn Mandarin from the mother, Cantonese from the father, and English at school. While it is natural for parents to worry, there is no reason to worry about teaching a child several languages.

Benefits of Being Bilingual

While everyone realizes the benefits of being bilingual as an adult, there are also many benefits that extend to children. In fact, research has found that bilingual children perform much better in a variety of ways. These include the following:

• Greater attention spans/ability to focus
• Improved problem-solving skills
• Better at multitasking
• Improved literacy
• Better social skills
• Improved memory

What Does Research Say About Bilingual Language Development

As can be seen, research studies have found a number of benefits to being bilingual as a child. In fact, studies have consistently found that bilingual children have similar language development milestones when compared to monolingual children.
Most bilingual children speak their first words by age one and use two-word phrases by age two. You will see common phrases like “bye daddy” or “more juice” in either one or both languages. Thus, concerns that bilingual children may experience delays are unfounded.
In fact, bilingual children demonstrate greater progress than monolingual children in some areas. For example, bilingual children learn earlier that objects and their names are not the same and that an object can have multiple names. Bilingual toddlers have the ability to separate concepts and use more than one language.

The Verdict from ASHA

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is often seen as the expert when it comes to language learning in children. They advise that parents should use multiple languages when speaking to children when they come from multicultural backgrounds. In fact, research shows that heritage languages are quite important for many functions such as preserving culture and strengthening family values.
ASHA also notes that while some medical or educational practitioners have advised families to limit language use for children in order to not confuse them, this is not ideal. Both monolingual and multilingual children can experience language delays. This does not mean that the presence of multiple languages caused the delay.

My Thoughts

The reality is that there is not significant research to indicate that bilingualism impedes the development of children. In fact, much research actually suggests the opposite. With so many benefits associated with children learning multiple languages, I strongly advise families to continue using whatever language they are most comfortable with to promote that language in their child’s home environment.