In the clinic, I often meet caring parents who proudly say: “Doctor, I let my child watch educational videos so that he can learn new words.”
Each time, I find myself gently explaining the same thing: Children don’t learn to talk from screens; they learn to talk from people.
For many parents, this is a surprising and uncomfortable truth.
After all, screens today come labelled as “educational”, “language-boosting” or “developmental”.
But when it comes to language development, decades of research consistently show one thing: No amount of videos can replace human interaction.
The illusion of learning
Watching a child repeat an alphabet song or point excitedly at a cartoon character can make any parent believe learning is happening.
But this is what we call the impression of learning, and not actual language acquisition.
Here’s a simple analogy I share with parents.
Learning to talk from a screen is like learning to swim by watching YouTube.
You only truly learn when you get into the water.
Screens can show words, but they cannot:
- Respond to your child’s sounds
- Interpret body language
- Expand their sentences
- Ask questions
- Build emotional connection.
These are the core foundations of real speech and social communication.
‘Serve and return’
Language is built through a simple, but powerful, interaction known as “serve and return”.
This revolves around back-and-forth exchanges between a young child and a caring adult.
Your child “serves” – pointing, babbling, looking, showing interest.
You “return” – responding, labelling, describing, smiling, repeating.
This back-and-forth exchange literally strengthens the neural pathways for language.
Screens, however, only talk to children.
They cannot talk with them.
Even the most “interactive” videos are still passive compared to what a parent, caregiver or sibling can provide.
Screens can delay speech
Large population studies have linked higher daily screen use in toddlers to the following:
- Excessive screen time delays speech development.
- Children below two years of age cannot learn new words from screens unless an adult is sitting beside them explaining.
- Increased screentime is linked to behavioural issues, poor attention and sleep disturbances.
This is not about blaming parents.
Most parents I know are trying their best.
But understanding the science helps us make better choices.
Advantages of real-life interaction
If a cartoon says “apple”, a child sees and hears “apple”, but may not connect it to the actual object.
But if a parent says: “Here’s an apple”, while letting the child touch, smell and hold it, the brain associates the word with a real object through multiple senses.
That’s how learning happens.
It is through experience, and not merely observation.
Babies and toddlers learn language through:
- Facial expressions
- Tone of voice
- Touch, play and exploration
- Emotional connection.
The truth is screens offer none of these.
If you want your child to speak better, try these instead:
- Narrate daily activities
Talk during mealtimes, bath time or car rides, for example.
While dressing your child, you could say: “These are your socks... Let’s wear them... One sock on, two socks on!”
- Read every day
Even five to 10 minutes helps tremendously.
- Sing songs and rhymes
Repetition builds vocabulary and rhythm.
- Use play as learning
Pretend play, blocks, kitchen sets – all encourage language.
- Respond to their attempts
Every babble, point or sound is an opportunity to build language.
Screentime guidelines
International recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) are:
- Below two years of age: No or minimal screen exposure, apart from video-chatting.
- Two to five years: Around one hour per day of high quality, supervised content (with a parent present)
- Avoid screens during meals, before bed or to calm tantrums.
These limits exist because early language depends far more on interactions with one another than on exposure to words on a screen.
Always remember screens are tools, they are not teachers.
I always remind parents: “Screens can teach numbers and colours, but only you can teach language.”
If a screen replaces conversation, it replaces learning.
But the good news is this: You don’t need expensive toys, subscription apps or fancy programmes.
Your voice, your presence and your interaction are the most powerful tools your child will ever have.
Language begins with connection, not content.
You are your child’s best language app!
Dr Naveen Nair Gangadaran is a paediatrician at Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar, Seremban, and committee member of the Malaysian Paediatric Association and Perinatal Society Malaysia. For more information, email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and should not be considered as medical advice. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this article. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.
