Excessive projection time prevents children from developing

Screen time in children aged 2 to 5 has been shown to have a serious impact on their cognitive and overall development.

This is not the first time that the duration of screening in children is causing concern among parents, doctors and health officials. Research and surveys have found that 98% of children live in homes with one or more Internet-connected devices and spend a lot of time online or in front of mobile phone screens, tablets or laptops. The latest study on screen time and developmental delays in children was published in the latest issue of the journal JAMA Pediatrics.

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The team of researchers led by Dr. Sheri Madigan of the University of Calgary found that exposure to longer screening times at the age of two and three can predict lower cognitive development when child was three and five years old respectively. The study included approximately 2,400 mothers from Calgary, Alberta. Mothers were asked to report on the screen time that they allowed with their children and it was shown that on average, children were in front of screens for 2.4, 3, 6 and 1.6 hours a day at the age of two, three and five years, respectively. . Children spent an average of 17.09 hours, 24.99 hours and 10.85 hours per week at two, three and five years, respectively. These numbers are far more than the filtering times recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Pediatric Society. The two organizations do not allow more than one hour of screening for children between two and five years old.

The next step was to evaluate children based on developmental goals such as motor skills, social skills, problem solving and communication. This badessment was reported by participating mothers. For motor skills, the child was asked to put a string or stand on one foot and for communication skills, the child was asked to identify and point towards a part of the indicated body. Statistical badysis was used to predict and find an badociation between more screen time and developmental test results.

The results were consistent with the badumptions, with a longer screen time predicting poorer results in terms of development milestones and acquired skills. The authors of the study admit that they only look at the time spent on the screen, not the applications, websites and specific games that children use on their screens. They did not evaluate whether video games or streaming media were specifically related to developmental delays. This means that the impact of the interaction of active and pbadive digital media could be better defined, they explain. In addition, the researchers indicated that they were also examining the specific impacts of children viewing the screens alone or with their leaders.

The team explains that there may be two ways in which the time spent in front of the screen can affect children. One is the direct effects. This could be due to the impact of bright lights or reinforcements and rewards in the games. This could affect development, they explain. The indirect effects of screens are missed opportunities such as playing time, time of physical activity and time spent in company with friends and family. Both effects are also detrimental to children say the researchers.

The team plans to follow children who have spent a lot of time on the screen to see the effects and impact of this lifestyle trend. In the meantime, they suggest that families should be aware of the time their children spend with digital media and warn that overuse can become problematic. Moderation is the key and the time spent on screen with others rather than alone, they explain.

Canadian psychologists concluded, "This study examines developmental outcomes during a critical period of growth and maturation, revealing that the duration of the projection can be detrimental to children's ability to develop optimally." They urge health professionals and families to develop a limit on screen time for children.