By Pepper Parr
October 11th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Does the amount of time spent by a child watching TV have an impact on how well they do at school? Research suggest there is a link.
Recent research suggests there is a relationship between scores in reading, writing and mathematics and the amount of time spent watching TV or playing games on a cell phone.
In a study “Screen Time and Standardized Academic Achievement Tests in Elementary School, done by Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children the findings are pretty clear.
Parent-reported total screen time and TV and digital media time were associated with lower reading and math achievement on standardized tests in elementary school.
Question Is there an association between different types of screen time in young children and academic achievement in grades 3 and 6, as measured by standardized tests in reading, writing, and math?
Findings In this cohort study of 3322 grade 3 children and 2084 grade 6 children recruited from primary care settings in Ontario, Canada, between 2008 and 2023, higher parent-reported total screen time and TV and digital media time were associated with lower reading and math achievement on standardized tests in elementary school.
Meaning These findings suggest that early interventions to reduce screen time exposure should be developed and tested to promote healthy screen use habits and enhance academic achievement in elementary school.
Importance Few studies have investigated the longitudinal associations between different types of screen time in young children and academic achievement in elementary school.
Objective To examine whether there is an association between screen time in young children and standardized academic achievement tests in grades 3 and 6.
Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective cohort study was conducted among children participating in the TARGet Kids! primary care cohort in Ontario, Canada, between July 2008 and June 2023. Participant data were linked to annual grades 3 and 6 provincial standardized academic achievement test results.
Exposures Parent-reported child total screen time, TV and digital media time, and video gaming time. The screen time measurement closest before the outcome was used.
Objective: To examine whether there is an association between screen time in young children and standardized academic achievement tests in grades 3 and 6.
Main Outcomes and Measures Academic achievement levels on standardized tests in reading, writing, and math for grades 3 and 6 were classified as below, at, or above the Ontario provincial standard.
Conclusions and Relevance In this prospective cohort study of Canadian children recruited from primary care settings, high levels of total screen time and TV and digital media in young children were associated with lower achievement levels in reading and math on standardized tests in elementary school. Early interventions to reduce screen time exposure should be developed and tested to enhance academic achievement in elementary school.
In this prospective cohort study of Canadian children recruited from primary care settings, high levels of early total screen time and TV and digital media time were associated with lower reading and math achievement in elementary school. Our findings underscore the importance of developing and testing targeted early guidelines and interventions to reduce screen time and TV and digital media exposure, with the goal of improving academic achievement in elementary school.
Anything done by academics results in lengthy reports and pages of footnotes. For those who want to do a deep dive link to the full report:
The concern for parents? Will your child make it to college or university or will they get a job flipping burgers?
