Abstract
Dimitri A. Christakis and Lauren Hale’s Handbook of Children and Screens (2025) examines the complex relationship between digital media use and children’s cognitive, physical, mental, and social development. Drawing on interdisciplinary research from neuroscience, psychology, public health, and education, the book argues that children’s wellbeing is shaped by both the opportunities and risks of digital environments. The handbook is structured into three major parts covering cognitive development, social and cultural influences and digital domains. It highlights key concerns such as attention disruption, sleep disturbance and problematic media use. Even though the book provides a comprehensive and evidence-based synthesis, it has certain limitations, which are critically analysed in present review.
Plain Language Summary
This book explains how digital media and screens influence children’s development from early childhood to adolescence. It shows how screen use affects attention, learning, sleep, social relationships, and emotional well-being. The book highlights that digital media can shape brain development, sometimes by replacing important activities like play, reading, and face-to-face interaction. It also explains how children today interact with different technologies such as social media, video games, and artificial intelligence, and how these experiences vary depending on age and context. These contribute to the problems such as attention difficulties, reduced empathy, and excessive use. While more research is needed to clearly establish cause and effect, by discussing issues like digital literacy, balanced screen use with it impact on cognition, it helps child psychologists, researchers, teachers, and families better understand how to create healthier psychologically sound digital environments for children’s growth and development.
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