National vows to limit screen time in primary schools, early childhood centres

A re-elected National government wants to ban screen time in early childhood education centres and intends to limit screen use in years 1 to 3.The party said it wanted a greater emphasis on books, handwriting, conversation, hands-on activities and direct interaction with teachers and other children.National's education spokesperson Erica Stanford said New Zealand was not alone in reconsidering how much time children spent learning through screens, with the international direction showing that, particularly for young children, digital did not automatically mean better."There is also growing evidence about the importance of handwriting and learning by hand. Forming letters helps children learn and retain information. When children are first learning to read and write, that matters," she said."Technology still has a place in education, but it should enhance learning, not become the default way children learn," Stanford said.The policyEnd screen and individual-device use in ECE, tightly limit screen and individual-device use in Years 1 to 3, and introduce age-appropriate limits for older primary studentsIntroduce a School Start Check at ECE before children transition to primary schoolIntroduce clearer developmental milestones throughout ECE and report this progress to parentsIdentify areas where children may need additional support and address that through the Early Intervention ServiceRequire the writing component of twice-yearly primary school assessments to be completed on paperIt pointed to a study from Singapore which found screen exposure was leading to differences in brain activity, as well a separate study which linked higher screen use in early childhood with poorer academic performance and working memory.While the studies mainly measured viewing at home, and could not prove screens caused the outcome, National said they added to the case for caution.The policy is part of the party's ECE policy platform, which includes a new 'School Start Check' at ECE before children move to primary school.While it would not be a pass-fail test, or prevent a child from starting school, it would set clear expectations about what children need to develop before they attend school, such as toilet training, eating and dressing independently, and holding a pencil.Stanford said ECE centres would work with parents to assess how ready a child was to start school and where they would need extra support.