Do Electronic Toys Affect Language Development?

Parents speak and respond less when infants play with electronic toys compared with traditional toys and books.

Early exposure to language at home is associated with enhanced language, reading, and academic outcomes. The quality of parent–child interactions also influences language development. Researchers evaluated whether parent–infant communication is affected by different types of toys used for playing (electronic, traditional, and books) in 26 parents and their infants (age range, 10–16 months).

A digital recording device placed in a pocket on the child's chest generated data on the amount of speech from the parent, the number of child vocalizations, and the number of parent–child conversational interactions during two 15-minute parent–infant play sessions with three sets of toys for 3 days. The play sessions took place at home, and the toys taug…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics