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Longitudinal associations between maternal and child screen use at 1 year of age and child behavior and development at 3 years of ageYoung children are increasingly exposed to evolving screen technology. International guidelines recommend no screen use for children under the age of 2 years, due to the potential for detrimental effects on behaviour and development. However, evidence for these guidelines is limited by inadequate consideration of device-specific effects (TV and mobile phone/tablet computer), maternal screen use, confounders such as maternal mental health and importance of effect sizes.
Research
Screen Time and Parent-Child Talk When Children Are Aged 12 to 36 MonthsGrowing up in a language-rich home environment is important for children's language development in the early years. The concept of "technoference" (technology-based interference) suggests that screen time may be interfering with opportunities for talk and interactions between parent and child; however, limited longitudinal evidence exists exploring this association.
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Study shows screen time is replacing vital language opportunities for toddlersA first-of-its kind study has found that for every minute of screen time toddlers are exposed to at home, they hear fewer adult words, make fewer vocalisations and engage in fewer back-and-forth conversations with their parents.
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Screen ORIGINS study finds mobile devices a lifeline for families during lockdownsA study of ORIGINS families has revealed a positive aspect to the COVID pandemic, with families found to benefit from the extra time together during lockdowns and mobile devices proving useful for helping them stay in touch with extended family and friends and for activities such as online classes.
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The Three C’s that can help keep your kids safe onlineThe Kids Research Institute Australia cyber safety expert Professor Donna Cross says parents should use the ‘three C’s’ to help keep their children safe online.
Research
‘There’s good and bad’: parent perspectives on the influence of mobile touch screen device use on prenatal attachmentThe potential for human-computer interaction to have a substantial impact on adults is well documented. However, its potential importance prior to birth has rarely been reported. Parental use of smartphones and tablet computers could influence the relationship between parent and baby during pregnancy (prenatal attachment) and thus child development.
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Improving physical activity and screen time in Australian Outside School Hours Care: Study protocolChildren's physical activity and screen time behaviours impact their physical health and well-being. In Australia, less than half of children meet daily physical activity recommendations and only one-third meet daily screen time recommendations.
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Investigating the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Facebook Delivered, Parent Mediated, Physical Activity Intervention for Children with Developmental Coordination DisorderChildren with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) experience difficulties performing fundamental movement skills, resulting in reduced physical activity (PA). Given low PA can impact mental and physical health, improving PA in DCD appears imperative. This study investigates the feasibility of a Facebook delivered, parent mediated, PA intervention for children with DCD.
Research
Study protocol for Healthy Conversations @ Playgroup: a multi-site cluster randomized controlled trial of an intervention to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours in young children attending community playgroupsEarly childhood is a critical window for preventing obesity and chronic disease. Yet, 1 in 4 Australian children aged 5 years and under are affected by overweight or obesity; and significant proportions of children under 5 years fail to meet guidelines for diet quality, physical activity (PA), screen time, and sleep.
Research
Diet culture on TikTok: a descriptive content analysisTo investigate how dieting is portrayed on TikTok and the potential implications for public health considering the effect of diet culture on eating disorders amongst young people.