Experts back screen-free Pre-K classrooms in 7-2 vote

A Children and Screens Evidence Council voted 7-2 to support screen-free Pre-K classrooms, arguing that play, movement, social interaction and hands-on learning matter most in early childhood. Dissenting experts favored limited, teacher-guided use, but the majority said the risks of screens outweigh the benefits.

Why it matters: - The vote adds expert weight to a growing push to keep preschool classrooms centered on play, relationships and movement instead of devices. - The position could influence how parents, educators and policymakers think about screen use during a critical stage of child development. - The Council says the evidence base can help identify where expert consensus exists and where questions remain.

What happened: - The Children and Screens Evidence Council voted 7-2 in favor of screen-free Pre-K classrooms. - The vote was announced June 11, 2026. - Children and Screens said leading child development and mental health experts supported the position. - Read the full report.

The details: - Supporters cited face-to-face interaction as important for communication, emotional understanding and healthy relationships. - Supporters also pointed to real and imaginary play, movement, creativity and hands-on experiences as core parts of early learning. - The majority said screen use can displace physical activity, peer engagement and exploratory learning even when content is high quality. - The majority said research links excessive early screen exposure to attention problems, language delays, social delays, behavioral challenges and sleep disruption. - Kris Perry, executive director of Children and Screens, said Pre-K classrooms should prioritize play, movement, communication and human connection during one of the most important periods of development. - Dr. Naomi Baron said early childhood is a precious time for learning about the physical world and nurturing human relationships. - Dr. Colleen Kraft said the educational and health literature overwhelmingly supports limiting screen time for preschool-age children. - Dr. Kraft said weight and physical health, language development, cognitive development and social-emotional relationships are all affected by too much screen time. - Dr. Kraft said in-person physical and communication skills should be a preschool goal, and screens are not needed for those activities.

Between the lines: - The vote is not a policy mandate and does not recommend specific products or classroom rules. - Dissenting members argued for a more nuanced approach instead of an outright ban. - Dissenting views said technology may have a role when used briefly, intentionally and under direct teacher guidance. - Dissenting views also said screens may be useful for urgent communication with parents or guardians. - Dr. Desmond Patton said Pre-K classrooms should be screen-light, not screen-dependent. - The majority said any benefits from screens often depend on one-to-one adult engagement that can be hard to sustain in a classroom.

What’s next: - Children and Screens said the Evidence Council will continue issuing vote-based evidence statements on major questions affecting children’s digital lives. - The organization said each position includes the vote outcome, key scientific considerations and individual expert rationales. - Children and Screens said more information about the Evidence Council is available on its website.

The bottom line: - The expert consensus in this vote is clear: early childhood classrooms should be built around play and human interaction, with screens kept out or used only sparingly.”}】}