Screen Time Affects Development of Toddlers, Study Says

The amount of screen time that babies and toddlers receive daily could be a potential developmental hazard for them as per The Journal of the American Medical Association of Pediatrics (JAMA).

The Effect of Screen Time to Babies and Toddlers

Researchers in Japan observed the screen time of over 7,000 children who actively uses tablets, phone, TV, and other technological devices. The study was aimed to analyze the relationship of technological exposure to the formulation of mental and physical abilities of these children.

The study found out that babies who got four hours of screen time a day were more likely to experience delays on communication and problem-solving skills by the age of two. Worse case scenario might happen if the babies were exposed to more than four hours as it can increase the risk by almost six times.

Four-year-old children are already having delays in gross motor and fine motor skills. Most evident among the effects were the delays on personal and social skills as the kids were used to focusing on screen rather than communicating to other people.

WHO Warns the Potential Danger of Excessive Screen Time

The World Health Organization (WHO) is strongly advising parents to avoid giving any kind of screen time to infants. Moreover, two-year-old kids should never have more than an hour of screen time.

"When they're allowed to be a little bit bored for a second, they get a little uncomfortable, but then they're like, 'OK, I want to make myself more comfortable.' And that's how creativity happens," Dr. John Hutton explained.

Creativity is one of the most important aspect in the formative years of humans. It allows children to explore their surrounding and form bonds outside the comfort of the family. In this way, they will be prepared to socialize in school and have more empathy towards other people. While technology is made for human's work efficiency, kids are built different and they should be allowed to work their way in the world without it for some years.