Can Kids Learn From TV and Movies?

Kids grow up in a world where screens are ubiquitous, so it’s natural for parents, caregivers, and teachers to want definitive answers to the question: Can children learn from screen media, including TV and movies? The research findings have been mixed.

Can Kids Aged Two and Younger Learn From TV and Movies?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that kids under 18 months use screen media only for video chatting, and toddlers aged 18 to 24 months only watch high-quality programs that parents or caregivers view with them.

Despite recommendations, very young kids regularly interact with screens. Yet, despite media aimed at children under two claiming to enhance learning and cognitive development, research shows that, in general, children’s screen-based learning is extremely limited and only occurs under specific conditions.

• Kids May Imitate Actions They See On TV: Studies show that from about 6 months old, infants can imitate simple TV actions for up to 24 hours. By age two, they can remember brief TV sequences for up to a month.

• Kids May Absorb Some Information From Television: Evidence suggests that when caregivers direct their baby’s attention to appropriate screen content, they can learn. For instance, research showed that toddlers two and under who repeatedly viewed an educational DVD highlighting new words didn’t learn more words than kids who didn’t watch the DVD, but if parents pointed out the words on TV, some kids learned the presented words.

What Do Kids Learn From Movies and TV?

The AAP recommends that two to five-year-olds be limited to one hour of high-quality screen time daily, and that after age five, parents and caregivers limit screen use to ensure it doesn’t interfere with sleep, physical activity, homework, or other healthy activities.

While this exceeds recommendations, the good news is that preschoolers can learn from slow-paced TV and movies with developmentally appropriate lessons.

• Media Mimicking Real Life Helps Kids Learn Better: Scholars suggest that the ability to interact with TV socially allows kids to learn from it in preschool and middle childhood. Children’s programs where characters mimic real-life social interactions, such as looking at the camera, asking direct questions, and pausing for responses, create pseudo-social contexts that guide and encourage children’s participation, enhancing their learning.

Recommendations for Parents and Caregivers

It may not always be possible to strictly adhere to the AAP’s screen time recommendations, but Common Sense Media suggests this is unlikely to negatively impact children as long as parents:

• Set Limits: Establish limits on screen time that are age-appropriate and consistent.
• Monitor Content: Preview movies and TV shows before your child watches them to ensure they are appropriate.
• Watch Together: Watch movies and TV shows with your child and talk about what’s happening on the screen.
• Make Screen Time Active: Encourage your child to engage with the content actively. Ask them questions, have them help you solve problems, or sing along to the songs.

Conclusion

Research suggests that kids can learn from TV and movies, but only under certain limited conditions. Younger children can learn some things from TV, but they need help from adults to do so. Older children can learn more from TV, but they need to be able to pay attention and understand what they are seeing. To fully understand what they see on a screen, kids need to develop cognitive skills that allow them to connect information on a screen to the real world. Parents and caregivers can help children learn from TV and movies by watching with them, talking about what they are seeing, and encouraging active engagement.