A new study published in The Journal of Pediatrics reported that 24-month-old kids who completed the daily physical exercise and spent less than 60 minutes per day staring at screens had higher executive function than kids who didn′t. The executive function included remembering, organizing, paying attention, switching between tasks, and controlling one′s thoughts and behaviour.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends children should engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, consume five servings or more of fruits and vegetables, spend less than 60 minutes per day staring at screens and avoid consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.

The families of the 356 toddlers were included in the STRONG KIDS 2 cohort research, which tracked children from birth to age 5 and looked at the interrelated factors that affect food patterns and weight trajectories across time. The researchers used parental surveys and information about the kids gathered at eight intervals over five years, including when they were 24 months old. The parents also participated in a standard survey to evaluate the toddlers′ executive function.

The researchers evaluated the direct and indirect links between toddlers′ executive function and adherence to the AAP recommendations using a structural equation modelling technique.

They found that children who spent less time per day staring at screens—such as phones, tablets, televisions, and computers—had a considerably stronger capacity to actively manage their cognition than those who spent more time doing so. Their working memory, executive function, and inhibitory control were all higher. Further, kids who engaged in daily physical activity performed noticeably better on working memory tests than those who did not.

(Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/more-physical-activity-less-screen-time-linked-to-better-functioning-in-babies-101666169648746.html)