Taking away screens and reading to our children during the formative years of birth to age 5 boosts brain development. We all know that’s true, but now science can convince us with startling images.
This is the brain of a preschooler who is often read to by a caregiver.
The red areas in this scan show a growth in organized white matter in the language and literacy areas of the child’s brain, areas that will support learning in school.
This is the brain of a preschooler who likely spends an average of two hours a day playing on screens.
The blue in this image shows massive underdevelopment and disorganization of white matter in the same areas needed to support learning in school.
‘Nuff said?
Recently, I mentioned – not for the first time – my mother’s practice of walking my sister and me to the neighborhood public library for our week’s worth of books every Saturday morning. A 3-mile round trip. I should also mention she taught each of us to read before we entered public school. Age 4.