Overview

• Researchers linked parent-reported early screen exposure to later EQAO results for thousands of Ontario children tracked from 2008 to 2023, examining Grade 3 reading and math and Grade 6 math.
• Each additional daily hour of screen time was associated with roughly 9% lower odds of higher grades in Grade 3 reading and math and about 10% lower odds in Grade 6 math.
• TV and other digital media were consistently associated with lower scores across boys and girls, while video game use correlated with lower reading among younger children and lower achievement among some female students.
• Writing showed limited associations, and exposure was measured by parent questionnaires at mean ages 5.5 and 7.5 years, with average daily screen time of 1.6 and 1.8 hours respectively.
• The SickKids-led team urged testing early interventions to promote healthy screen habits, as outside experts cautioned that the observational design and mixed prior evidence preclude causal conclusions.