3 Comments
User's avatar
⭠ Return to thread
Ruth Gaskovski's avatar

Yes, your inkling is spot on. My husband is a neuropsychologist and thus I also read a lot on brain development, especially with regard to reading. The visual interface of screens alters eye movements and develops different, more superficial, pathways for reading and attention. Thus, reading from a tablet vs. reading from a tangible book; drawing with a paint program vs. drawing with paint and paper etc. produce more superficial attention. That is why learning to read from a device is not recommendable. The fact that a device provides access to a multitude of activities such as films, games, photos, text, etc. makes deep attention even more challenging (you are likely familiar with research that finds that even having a phone in your pocket makes you less likely to be attentive to details in your surroundings). The surge in attentional disorders is a close mirror of the surge in screen time.

Keeping children engaged with real life, tangible objects is necessary for brain development that will support their future attention.

Expand full comment
Henrik Karlsson's avatar

The smartphone in the pocket: that makes me glad I've never gotten around to buying one.

Expand full comment
Ruth Gaskovski's avatar

Neither have I - and am profoundly glad for it, as I am not a 'freak of self-control' who could resist its temptation.

Expand full comment