Children, Executive Functioning, and Digital Media: A Review, 2020

This research landscape analysis reviews the impact of digital media use on young children's healthy development, specifically their executive functioning. The review focuses on scientific studies of children from birth to age 8. As media use trends continue to age down, kids are encountering technology and devices earlier in life. Their first eight years represent a critical window for brain development in which early experiences can have lasting and cascading impacts.

We reviewed more than 150 journal articles, press articles, industry papers, and books for this report. Read the full literature review for our in-depth analysis of the relationships between children's use of high-quality media content and their screen time, and the development of executive functioning skills. In addition, learn why supportive relationships are essential to healthy development, even during media experiences.