Vollintine Evergreen Neighborhood School

Research shows that screen time before the age of two can have lasting effects on a baby’s brain. Unlike books, hands-on play, or face-to-face interaction, screens provide fast, passive stimulation that can shape the development of attention, language, and emotions in early childhood.

A 2024 study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that toddlers who spent a lot of time in front of screens had differences in white matter, the brain’s wiring for learning and communication. These changes were linked to slower language growth and weaker focus, especially when screen time replaced real conversation or interactive play.

Real human interaction is key for early brain development. Talking, reading, and playing with a child helps build vocabulary, attention span, self-control, and emotional understanding. Eye contact and shared activities teach empathy and social skills that screens cannot replicate.

While screens can be useful for learning when used intentionally and alongside human guidance, early, unsupervised exposure can interfere with critical brain development. Prioritizing direct interaction, play, and conversation is essential to help toddlers grow strong, healthy brains.

Yelling at a toddler can affect the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala, which can lead to consequences like difficulty with emotional regulation, learning, memory, depression, anxiety, and/or a heightened stress response.

These brain regions are affected because the stress response triggered by yelling can lead to structural changes, such as smaller volumes in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala and impaired hippocampus function, due to the brain prioritizing survival over high-level functions and forming neural pathways that are constantly on alert for danger.

To elaborate, the affected brain regions:

📑Prefrontal cortex: This area is responsible for executive functions like decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation.
📑Hippocampus: This region is vital for learning and memory formation.
📑Amygdala: This almond-shaped part of the brain is the center for processing emotions, particularly fear and anxiety.

WHY THESE REGIONS ARE AFFECTED:

📑Stress response activation: Yelling triggers the brain’s “fight or flight” response, especially activating the amygdala and hippocampus. This physiological stress response can last for hours after the yelling stops and can lead to the brain’s being constantly on the alert for perceived threats.

📑Pruning and neural pathways development: During development, the brain undergoes significant “pruning” of neurons. When a child is repeatedly exposed to a stressful environment from yelling, the brain prioritizes the creation of neural pathways that react to danger. This can lead to over-pruning of the prefrontal cortex, which is essential for higher-level thinking, and the formation of an overactive amygdala that constantly scans for threats.

CONSEQUENCES OF STRUCTURAL CHANGES:

📑Emotional dysregulation: A smaller or less developed prefrontal cortex can make it harder for a child to manage their emotions, leading to increased anxiety and difficulty controlling impulses.
📑Impaired learning and memory: An affected hippocampus can impair a child’s ability to form new memories and learn effectively.
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PMID: 20483374

We had such a wonderful time at our Halloween Festival! The children looked adorable in their costumes, and the teachers joined in the fun by dressing up too. Everyone enjoyed the bouncy house, basketball, “Go Fishing,” arts and crafts, and many more exciting activities! &R

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Learning through play is always in the cart at Ms. Michelle’s Butterfly Classroom! 🛒✨ Ms. Michelle creates a classroom environment that encourages both playful exploration and meaningful learning. ❤️