The research, conducted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, tracked 2,449 children aged three to six between 2018 and 2019, and followed up with the same children in 2021.
The study found that parental joint media engagement, such as watching together, talking about content, or playing alongside the child, was positively associated with children’s prosocial behavior, including sharing, cooperating, showing empathy, and interacting positively with peers. These early behaviors were also associated with continued positive social development as the children grew older.
By contrast, screen time alone, or parental rules about screen use without active involvement, was not associated with improved social outcomes once factors such as children’s characteristics and family background were considered.
The agency said the findings, together with previous research, suggest a more complete approach: limiting screen exposure is important during infancy, while the quality of parental engagement becomes increasingly crucial in nurturing children’s social-emotional skills as they enter preschool and primary schools.
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