Picture a parent scrolling on their phone while their child plays nearby. At first glance, this familiar scene might appear harmless – after all, smartphones are an essential tool for everyday life. But new research suggests that parents’ use of smartphones has important implications for their child’s language development.

A 2024 study examines how parental phone use affects the quantity of language input that infants receive. Let’s take a closer look at what this research tells us.

What the Research Says About the Effect of Parents’ Phone Use

Mikhelson et al. (2024) monitored parents’ phone use and the quantity of language input used with their infant children in real-world settings over one week. Using wearable sensors and audio analysis tools, the researchers captured over 16,000 minutes of data from parent-infant pairs while at home. 

Here is what they found:

• Reduced Language Input During Phone Use
  When mothers used their phones, the quantity of language input they used with their infants decreased by 16%. The effect was even greater for shorter instances of phone use (1–2 minutes), with a 26% decrease.
• Time of Day Matters
   The effect of phone use on parents’ language input was greatest during key daily routines (such as mealtimes) and in the mid-afternoon, when parents are typically more engaged with their children.
• Potential Developmental Effects
   The quantity of language infants receive from their parents is directly linked to their vocabulary growth and cognitive development. A decrease in language input, especially during critical developmental periods, could have lasting effects on a child’s language acquisition by influencing the quality of parent-child interactions.

Clinical Implications

In my clinical work, I frequently talk to parents who are concerned about how their young child’s screentime affects their communication development.

This study tells me that it’s also important to extend that discussion. I can get parents thinking about how their own screentime affects their child. 

I could ask: “This may be a strange question, but how much time do you think you spend on your phone when you are with (child’s name)?” This will likely lead to a conversation in which I share the study’s findings and guide parents to reflect on what this means for them. 

What are your thoughts on this topic?