Home / Health / Early Screens Harm Toddler Development, Study Warns
Early Screens Harm Toddler Development, Study Warns
28 Apr
Summary
- Children exposed to screens before 18 months had higher chances of abnormal development.
- Average first screen exposure for children was around 17.5 months.
- Less than an hour of weekday screen time linked to better communication skills.
A cross-sectional observational study involving 140 children aged 18 to 24 months has highlighted the detrimental effects of early screen exposure on child development. Conducted at a tertiary care pediatric OPD, the research indicated that children's first exposure to screens typically occurs around 17.5 months, with a significant majority experiencing screen time before 18 months.
The findings reveal a strong correlation between early screen exposure and developmental outcomes. Children exposed before 18 months demonstrated nearly eight times higher chances of abnormal personal-social development and more than double the odds of abnormal gross motor development. Furthermore, less than an hour of screen time on weekdays was associated with superior communication skills compared to longer durations.
Experts emphasize that passive viewing, without parental interaction, is particularly harmful. The critical formative years for a child's brain development require responsive parental engagement to create a cognitively stimulating environment, which screens cannot replicate. This active interaction is crucial for fostering communication and social skills.
