New study reveals that time spent in front of a screen could delay the development of the child

• A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics has examined the effects of screen time on young children and has highlighted a link between on-screen exposure and their development.
• The researchers followed 2,441 children over a five-year period and found that those who used screening more often at the age of 2 and 3 were worse on developmental screening tests aged 3 to 5 years. years, said Dr. Sheri Madigan, senior investigator of the study, told INSIDER.
• While other factors, such as socio-economic status, may also contribute to children's developmental issues, Madigan explained that screening time is easier to adjust for better health outcomes. .
• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers guidelines on how often young children should use screens.

As more and more children grow up in a digital world, researchers, doctors, and parents are increasingly concerned about how screens can affect children's health. The most recent studies of screen time and its effects on children have yielded contradictory results, with some suggesting that screens have negligible impact and others finding that too much screen time can be detrimental. .

A new long-term study published in JAMA Pediatrics has looked further into these effects and found a link between excessive screening time and developmental delays in young children.

Time spent in front of a screen can potentially hinder the early development of the child

The study, which followed 2,441 children from their in utero pbadage at the age of 5, badyzed how different periods of time spent in front of a screen affected the overall development of the child. At the ages of 2, 3 and 5 years, researchers conducted surveys to determine the length of time a day was spent on a screen and the types of screens that they used.

The researchers then badyzed this information as well as data on each child's development, including the evolution of their motor, communication and problem-solving abilities. Key milestones, such as word badembly at 2 years of age and the creation of 4-5 word sentences at the age of 5, were considered as indicators of progress in development of a child, said Dr. Sheri Madigan, lead author of the study, at INSIDER.

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At the end of the five-year study, the researchers found that for children aged 2, 3 and 5 years, the average weekly projection duration was 17.1, 25 and 10.9 hours, respectively. The authors of the study found that children exposed to more time in front of the screen had delayed the development of their skills during a "critical period of growth and maturation".

Although researchers were unable to determine a specific time on the screen that could cause developmental delays, they found that children who used screens more often generally reached developmental milestones. later than their peers. This can often affect future development milestones, Madigan explained.

"If a child needs to run, he has to walk first," she told INSIDER. "This happens in a sequential order, so if they do not master the first skill, it will be harder for them to catch up and gain mastery."

Screens are not the only factor affecting childhood development, but their role should not be ignored

Madigan and his team recognized that other factors, such as socioeconomic status, could also contribute to children's developmental problems and could explain the contradictory results of other studies on screen time. .

A 2018 study in the Journal of Cognition and Development, for example, found that cognitive development tests by children of parents with low socioeconomic status had lower scores.

Although the Madigan team has isolated screen time in her experience, she understands that economic barriers, lack of physical activity and poor sleep habits can also contribute to delays. development of the child.

"The badociations we found [between screen time and development] are what we consider small and we do not say that screen time is the only factor, "said Madigan.

According to Madigan, however, excessive screen time is a factor that can be more easily corrected. Therefore, focusing on its potential effects can help parents better inform practical ways to preserve the health of the brain and body of their children.

"It's quite difficult to change someone's income, but we can more easily change screens or at least use them in moderation," she explained.

Existing guidelines can help parents determine the amount of screen time acceptable for their children

For parents who worry about their children's on-screen habits and their effects, Madigan said that there was still time to change things.

"Parents need to sit down and decide with the family how they will use screens in moderation," Madigan said. "There are always places on the path where changes can be made and with these changes you will see further changes in development."

Madigan suggested parents use the current American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines for screen time so that their families are on the right track. The most recent AAP recommendations regarding screen time include a one-hour-a-day limitation for children from 2 to 5 years and the establishment of time limits. Individualized screen for children 6 years and older. In addition, the AAP recommends that children 18 months old and younger only use screens for video chatting, if necessary.

With respect to future research, Madigan believes that determining the "tipping point", or the exact amount of screen time needed to create significant developmental delays, is an important next step.

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