Quality not quantity of television viewing is associated with bilingual toddlers’ vocabulary scores

Previous research examining the relationship between television viewing and vocabulary has produced mixed findings that indicate the quality of television exposure may impact language development more than quantity. However, few infant or toddler studies have included both quality and quantity measures and no study has done so with bilinguals. Caregivers of monolingual English, monolingual French, and English–French bilingual infants and toddlers from the same geographical area completed questionnaires regarding television exposure and vocabulary. Factor analysis of the questionnaire data confirmed that quantity and quality of viewing should be assessed separately. Quantity of television viewing was not correlated with language outcomes in any group. Poor quality viewing (television unintended for children, background television, solitary viewing, and earlier age of viewing) was related to lower vocabulary scores overall, but especially the English vocabulary scores of bilingual toddlers. Possible reasons for this finding are discussed.

► Devised questionnaire to measure both quantity and quality of television viewing.
► Factor analysis confirmed quantity and quality as separate components.
► Measured monolingual and bilingual infants’ and toddlers’ exposure to television.
► Quantity of television viewing was not related to vocabulary scores.
► Low quality viewing was related to smaller vocabulary, particularly in bilinguals.