By the time children in the U.S. turn two, 40% have their own tablet. By age four, more than half do. For many families, reaching for a device has simply become part of getting through the day: a way to soothe a meltdown, to make it through a meal out, or to buy a few quiet moments.
So what is all that screen time doing to a brain that's still taking shape?
What stands out across the research is how much content and context matter:
For infants, who can’t yet learn from screens the way older children can, more screen time is associated with greater risk, including links to language and social-emotional delays.
As children grow, well-designed, age-appropriate media can support language and social-emotional learning when it’s paired with caregiver involvement and balanced with time to learn away from screens.
Relying on devices for emotional regulation is associated with more difficulty building those skills over time, with effects that may persist as children grow.
This is Part I of a two-part series; Part II, on Adolescence, follows later this summer. In the meantime, please read on for more news and resources from the Lab.
Toward a healthy digital future,
Cori Stott Executive Director The Digital Wellness Lab
P.S. If you know someone who might benefit from these insights, please share this newsletter and encourage them to subscribe.
Join us on June 24 for the Next Inspired Internet Pledge Researcher Roundtable
As a part of our continuing commitment to the third principle of the Inspired Internet Pledge—sharing lessons collaboratively—we are excited to invite you to our next Researcher Roundtable, hosted by the California Partners Project.
Researcher Roundtable—Belonging in a Digital World: Teens, Tech, & Third Places
🗓️ Wednesday, June 24
⏰ 12-1:00 pm ET / 9-10:00 am PT
🔗 Virtual (Zoom information will be sent after registration)
While public discourse often centers on screen time and platform harms, this 60-minute event explores a critical, parallel shift: how the steady erosion of physical “third places” for teens has fundamentally reshaped youth social life.
This event is free and open to the public. Please register and share within your networks!
Every family is different, so why do most tech rules feel the same?
We’re excited to highlight our free, interactive Family Day workshops, hosted in partnership with Verizon and developed by researchers and clinicians from The Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital.
We’re sharing flexible, personalized strategies that meet your family where you are. These sessions offer real tools for real life, covering everything from screen time management to family media plans to responsible AI use.
Our goal goes far beyond basic parental controls; we want to give your family the skills to make smart, ethical, and safe technology choices for life.
Check out the schedule and register for a workshop near you:
As summer days stretch out ahead of us, parents can feel nervous about their children’s screen time. Our updated guide covers why content and context matter more than minutes, how embracing boredom catalyzes creativity, and evidence-based, age-optimal strategies to help kids self-regulate—not just this summer, but all year long.
Teen Voices: Using AI to Augment, Not Replace Our Learning
Willow, a high school member of our 2025–2026 Student Advisory Council, examines the impact of AI on cognitive offloading in education, offering an evidence-backed 3-step framework to help students use AI for augmentation rather than as a replacement for critical thinking.
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All information included in this newsletter is for educational purposes only. For medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your health care provider.
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