There’s something you have to take care of for an hour at home, tidying some stuff up or a bit of life admin. You might put the TV on for you child while you do that. Ideally choosing something educational, that isn’t pure garbage. But what if that same hour they spent chatting with Grandma or Grandpa—laughing, sharing stories, showing off newly learned dance moves?

The benefit of doing that over even the best of TV shows might be a lot more than you realise, not just for your parents, but for the little one as well.

We’re often told that screens themselves can be harmful for young children, but the truth is more nuanced. The real issue isn’t the screen alone; it’s how children use it—and with whom. Evidence from developmental psychology and neuroscience increasingly indicates that active, social engagement with a responsive human is dramatically more beneficial to a child’s learning and development than passively watching a screen, no matter how “educational” the content claims to be, and research shows live video calls through a screen can be just at beneficial as in person engagement for children.

Children Learn Language Through Interaction—Not Just Exposure

To understand the huge difference between a static educational show and a live video call, let’s start with the example of language learning.

Decades of research have shown that children – especially infants and toddlers – need social interaction to effectively learn words, grammar, and communication skills. A study by neuroscientist Patricia Kuhl demonstrated this “social gating” effect: 9-month-old infants in America were exposed to a foreign language (Mandarin Chinese) in different ways. Infants who had less than 5 hours of play sessions with a live Mandarin speaker were later able to distinguish Mandarin speech sounds, but infants who watched the same speaker on video or heard the language over audio showed no learning at all​. In Kuhl’s words, babies “glean phonetic information... only if the language is produced by a human,” suggesting that “social interaction is an important component of language learning.”​

The crucial difference is contingent social interaction – the back-and-forth exchange of sounds, words, and reactions. This social contingency helps children connect words with meanings and encourages them to practice speaking. By contrast, a book or video that “talks at” a child without any response from the child is far less effective.

You won’t be surprised to learn that a study of language learning in toddlers over video calls, Skype in the case, shows that the interactively possible over video matches the outcome of in person learning, and toddlers can learn new vocabulary through video calls where an adult is responding to the child in real time, but they fail to learn the same words from a pre-recorded video.

Why such a difference between a video call and a recorded video? Young brains “switch on” to learn when there’s real social interaction. Children respond to eye contact, the rise and fall of a live voice, and the to-and-fro of conversation—even if it’s playful babbling. A one-way broadcast, such as a cartoon or a lesson taught only through a screen with no back-and-forth, lacks the adaptability and engagement that spark genuine learning.

The Power of Social Interaction in Cognitive Growth

Humans are inherently social learners. Psychologists refer to something called the “Zone of Proximal Development,” which suggests that children are capable of learning skills or concepts just beyond their grasp when an adult or older peer is there to guide them. That guide can be a teacher, a parent, or a grandparent. With the right nudges—hints, encouragement, patience—a child can tackle challenges they’d never manage alone.

This approach is almost impossible to replicate through a static TV show. Even the best-produced educational programs can’t adapt in real time to your child’s current skill level, interests, or misunderstandings. Grandparents, on the other hand, can instantly see if a child is puzzled or excited and adjust their approach. They can pause, ask clarifying questions, or demonstrate something physically—providing precisely the type of interactive scaffolding that leads to deep learning.

Social and emotional growth is also strongly nurtured by these intergenerational connections. A chat with Grandma or Grandpa encourages a child to practice listening, turn-taking, and empathy. They learn to sense different moods and respond accordingly. They also gain self-confidence and security, because they see that their thoughts and feelings matter to someone they love and respect.

Connect to History and Culture

Consider families where grandparents might speak a language that’s different from what the child speaks at home or at school. Live calls can become a gateway to that heritage language and culture. Having frequent chats in Spanish, Mandarin, Hindi, or any other language helps the child pick up new vocabulary and phrases that an “English-only” environment might never offer. The child also gains a deeper sense of identity and belonging, discovering traditions and perspectives that digital shows simply can’t replicate.

There’s extensive evidence that learning a second language in early childhood strengthens cognitive flexibility, problem-solving skills, and even future academic performance. Bilingual or multilingual children often show improved executive function—the ability to switch tasks, filter out distractions, and maintain focus. By nurturing a second language and cultural connection through regular calls with grandparents, you’re not only preserving family heritage but also promoting a wide range of cognitive advantages.

Turning the Screen Into a Bridge, Not a Barrier

Of course, there’s a practical side: families can be scattered across the country or even around the globe. It might not be feasible for grandparents and grandchildren to spend in-person time every weekend. That’s exactly where video callscan be invaluable. Used wisely, screens become a bridge to genuine human connection.

When grandparents and grandchildren can see each other on the screen—share smiles, wave, play peekaboo, or show off a new artwork—it starts to mimic an in-person visit.

Still, most families conduct video calls on smartphones or tablets. While that’s great in a pinch, it’s often cumbersome: the screen is small, the camera angle is awkward, and kids might wander off. Grandparents might also struggle with those smaller devices. That’s where using a larger screen like the TV can be revolutionary.

Think about it: Everyone is used to gathering around the TV. The screen is big, the sound is better, and it’s easier for kids to move around and still remain visible. The TV transforms a video call into a shared, comfortable living room experience, closer to a real in-person visit.

Building A New Way

At Higlo, we’re building a new way for families to connect together using their TV, made to be multigenerational, and easy to use, for 4 year olds to an 84 year olds. If we get this right, the grandparents, the children, and the parents all benefit. Everyone wins.

If the benefits we’ve talked about sound exciting to you, please support us by joining the waiting list for the product.