Calls are being made to review the impact of screen-time on young children. This is being pursued by Janet Finch-Saunders, Shadow Minister for Children, since finding that nursery staff are blaming technology for a decline in children having imaginary friends.
A survey of nursery owners, managers, and staff by daynurseries.co.uk has highlighted the impact technology is having on children, and found that fewer children have imaginary friends than five years ago.
Commenting on the outcome of the nursery survey, Janet said:
“It is extremely concerning that 72% of respondents have reported that fewer children have imaginary friends than five years ago.
“I believe that enabling such creativity in this most important stage of life is of advantage to children’s future as it helps found an early ability to be innovative, problem solve, and think outside the box.
“There are many skills children can learn and develop from playing games on i-pads or watching TV, but we should not ignore the fact that 63% of people working with children in nurseries on a daily basis believe that screens are making children less imaginative.
“Whilst it is not the place of the Welsh Government to micro-manage family homes, I do believe that it should be excreting its influence on the time young children spend in nurseries and schools.
“I have called on the Minister responsible to review the impact of screen-time on children whilst they are in nurseries and schools with the hope of clarifying whether the time spent using technology is of benefit to the users, and if not, that it be kept to a minimum”.
