# Impact of digital device use on child language development > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/impact-of-digital-device-use-on-child-language-development > Updated: 2026-08-24T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2. Research published in JAMA Pediatrics has identified a link between digital device usage and language development in children. A cohort study conducted by the University of Oslo followed 747 Norwegian children between the ages of five and eight to examine how screen habits and parental device use affect receptive vocabulary and grammar. The findings indicate that parental smartphone use may have a more significant impact on a child’s language development than the time children spend on screens themselves. Specifically, higher daily smartphone use by a child’s primary parent was linked to slower growth in the child’s receptive vocabulary. Researchers noted that each additional hour of daily smartphone use by the primary parent was associated with 0.42 fewer points in the child’s annual growth in receptive-vocabulary raw scores. Additionally, owning a digital device at ages four to five was associated with lower language scores at the beginning of the study. While the study showed a weaker correlation between children's own screen time and language skills than some previous research, experts warn that frequent device use by parents can reduce verbal communication and deprive children of essential vocabulary acquisition during critical developmental stages. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-24: Parental smartphone use linked to slower child language growth A study of 747 Norwegian children found that high daily smartphone use by a primary parent is linked to slower receptive vocabulary growth in children. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/parental-smartphone-use-linked-to-slower-child-language-growth ### 2026-08-19: Parental screen time linked to slower child language development Studies in JAMA Pediatrics show parental screen time and device use during family meals can hinder children's language development and weaken family connections. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/parental-screen-time-linked-to-slower-child-language-development --- Cite as: Impact of digital device use on child language development. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/impact-of-digital-device-use-on-child-language-development