Media and Young Minds: Comparing State Screen Media Use Regulations for Children Under 24 Months of Age in Early Care and Education to a National Standard

Excessive screen media use has been associated with a number of negative health outcomes in young children, including increased risk for obesity and comparatively lagging cognitive development. The purpose of this study was to assess state licensing regulations restricting screen media use for children under 24 months old in early care and education and to compare regulations to a national standard. Screen media use regulations for child care centers and family child care homes in all U.S. states were compared to a national standard discouraging screen media use in children under 24 months. The study found that more states in the South and fewer states in the Midwest had regulations liming screen use, though this association was only significant for family child care homes and not centers. Many states lack screen media use regulations in early child care and education settings for children under 24 months.