Handing your baby a phone or tablet may have negative consequences on their development, warns a recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics. The study, which involved over 7,000 children and their mothers, reveals significant associations between screen time at age 1 and developmental delays by age 2.
Screen Time and Development
Screen Time Linked to Developmental Delays Children who spent anywhere from one to four hours a day on screens at age 1 exhibited higher risks of developmental delays in various areas, including communication, fine motor skills, problem-solving, and personal and social skills by age 2.
Study Details
Data Collection The study gathered data from 7,097 children and their mothers in Japan, recruited from 50 obstetric clinics and hospitals between July 2013 and March 2017. The research was conducted under the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.
Impact at Age 2
Communication and Problem-Solving Skills By age 2, children exposed to up to four hours of daily screen time were three times more likely to experience developmental delays in communication and problem-solving skills.
Specific Delays Those who spent four or more hours with screens were 4.78 times more likely to have underdeveloped communication skills, 1.74 times more likely to have subpar fine motor skills, and twice as likely to have underdeveloped personal and social skills by age 2.
Impact at Age 4
Developmental Risk Increases The risk of developmental delays, particularly in communication and problem-solving, continued to rise by age 4.
Expert Opinion
Dr. Jason Nagata’s Insight Pediatrician Dr. Jason Nagata, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, emphasized the study’s significance in identifying specific developmental delays associated with screen time.
Conclusion
To promote healthy growth and well-being in children, the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend limiting screen time, including a maximum of 1 hour per day for children aged 2 to 5 years. This study underscores the importance of adhering to these guidelines.
