What Matters for Young Children's Healthy Digital Media Use and Learning? With Rachel Barr, PhD

What Matters for Young Children's Healthy Digital Media Use and Learning? With Rachel Barr, PhD

Author: Children and Screens May 6, 2026 Duration: 43:41
For decades, researchers have studied why babies and young children learn differently from screens than they do from real-world experiences. On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry is joined by Dr. Rachel Barr, Professor of Psychology at Georgetown University and a leading expert in early childhood and digital media. Dr. Barr describes why it’s difficult for young children to learn from digital media, a concept called the “video transfer deficit effect,” and explains which specific fe...

How do screens really shape the minds, bodies, and daily lives of young people? Screen Deep, from the nonprofit Children and Screens, moves beyond simple headlines and fear-based narratives to explore that complex reality. Host Kris Perry engages in thoughtful, detailed conversations with top researchers, pediatricians, and psychologists, unpacking the nuanced effects of digital media on child and adolescent development. Each episode focuses on a specific angle-whether it's the impact on sleep, attention, physical fitness, social skills, or mental well-being-grounding every discussion in current science and practical evidence. This isn't about prescribing a single solution but about understanding the multifaceted relationship kids have with technology. The podcast provides parents, educators, and anyone invested in youth with a clearer, more balanced perspective, translating academic studies into relatable insights. You'll hear experts explain not just the potential risks, but also the realities of digital engagement, offering grounded strategies for fostering healthy habits in a connected age. Tune in for a deeper, more informed dialogue that helps navigate the pressing questions of raising kids in a digital world.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 38

Screen Deep
Podcast Episodes
The Costs of Using Devices to Calm Children with Peter Reschke, PhD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:29
The usage of phones and tablets to help calm infants and young children in difficult moments is often effective in the moment – yet how is the development of self-calming skills affected by this common parenting practice…
The Science of Raising Humans in the Age of AI with Dana Suskind, MD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:17
The rise of AI is often presented as an opportunity to make parenting easier, but what happens when technology begins to replace, rather than support, the human interactions children need most? On this episode of Screen…
The Costs of Youth Attachment to AI Companions with Pilyoung Kim, PhD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:47
AI “friends” and companions are increasingly providing children and adolescents with social interactions and perceived “relationships,” despite being a technology that itself has no need for empathy or emotional reciproc…