{"id":48585,"date":"2026-10-26T11:52:30","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T16:52:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.allaboutlearningpress.com\/?p=48585"},"modified":"2026-10-26T11:53:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T16:53:37","slug":"screen-time-and-brain-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.allaboutlearningpress.com\/screen-time-and-brain-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Screen Time and Brain Development: Why Hands-On Learning Wins"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve seen it; your child finally agrees to put the tablet down, and they look up at you, a bit dazed, as if they aren\u2019t quite sure where they are. The phenomenon actually has a name: \u201cpost-tablet fog.<\/span>\u201d The signs are everywhere: difficulty focusing on anything that is not high stimulation, acting scattered and irritable, decreased mental clarity, and, in cases where tablets become an addiction, you may see full-blown temper tantrums when the device is taken away.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\"Child\r\n\r\n

Digital technology is everywhere, and the consensus is that it will take over every aspect of life. Do we just give in and accept it, or are there valid, concerning reasons to moderate its use for the sake of our child\u2019s brain development?<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Research consistently shows that the human brain, particularly in children, does not learn well on tablets. The negative effects of screen time on a child\u2019s brain development have become increasingly clear and concerning. The most effective method is physical interaction with the world and multisensory instruction, using sight, sound, and hands-on activities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The Digital Dilemma in Modern Education<\/h2>\r\n\r\n

For the past decade, schools have made significant investments in small laptops, e-readers, and tablets, promoting their use as the means to better prepare students for the future and to help them be more competitive with students around the globe.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath calls this the \u201cDigital Delusion.<\/span>\u201d He argues that the ubiquitous use of technology not only doesn\u2019t result in better learning but also actively hinders cognitive development. In his decades of research into how people learn, he developed the concept of \u201cthe biology of learning,\u201d or the physiological processes in the brain that facilitate learning. How our brains take in, process, and store information has not changed throughout human history, and digital technology has proven incompatible with how we learn.1<\/sup><\/p>\r\n\r\n

It isn\u2019t a matter of trying to do better at how you use technology. In every developed country in the world, after the introduction of technology in the classroom, there is a measurable decline in literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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after the introduction of technology in the classroom, there is a measurable decline in literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking.<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n

While the effects of screen time on brain development require further study, it is increasingly clear that excessive use of technology harms students.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The Science: How Screens Change the Way Kids Think<\/h2>\r\n\r\n

The use of screens for education \u201ccan overstimulate the visual cortex (the part of the brain that processes images) at the expense of the auditory cortex, which is vital for developing social skills and language,\u201d reports Dr. Jane Tevyev Asher, MD of Cedars Sinai. She goes on to say, \u201cIdeally, we want learning, especially early learning, to be grounded in real-world, interactive, face-to-face experiences, not passive viewing.\u201d 2<\/sup><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Looking at a screen to learn information is much like scattering seeds across the top of a field and hoping they take root. It is very shallow learning that causes some neurons to fire wildly, creating an addiction to fast-moving, high-stimulation input that then skips off into the ether, never sinking deeply into the brain. Seeds need to be worked into the soil and nurtured. To work new learning into the structures of our brains requires a multisensory approach: seeing the material, listening to a lecture, discussing the concepts, and engaging in hands-on experiences.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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A typical digital lesson on a tablet often includes:<\/p>\r\n