An extensive international study, involving close to 300,000 children, has identified a reciprocal relationship between the duration of screen use by children and their emotional and social well-being.
Children who devote more time to devices such as televisions, tablets, computers, and gaming consoles are at a heightened risk of exhibiting problems like aggression, anxiety, and low self-esteem later in life. However, this relationship also appears to work in reverse. Children already grappling with emotional and social difficulties tend to spend more time on screen.
Time spent on gaming consoles, in particular, was strongly associated with higher chances of developing emotional and social issues. This key finding suggests that gaming, regardless of the specific type, exhibits a much stronger correlation with emotional difficulties than other screen activities, such as watching television or utilizing educational apps.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises children between the ages of 2 and 5 to restrict recreational screen time to one hour per day on weekdays and three hours on weekends. The study indicates that children who exceed these recommended guidelines are more susceptible to socioemotional challenges compared to their peers who adhere to the suggested limits.
The significance of this should not be overlooked. As Dr. Tara Narula, ABC News chief medical correspondent, pointed out, more than 40% of children aged 8 to 12 are using screens for over four hours per day. Coupled with the increasing rates of mental health disorders in children, half of which begin before the age of 14, the need to understand the impact of screens on our children becomes all the more pressing.
What, then, is the key takeaway for parents? The researchers suggest that the goal isn’t to eradicate screens. When children engage in moderate amounts of screen time, especially for educational purposes, they are at a lower risk of future social or emotional problems. Encouraging children to interact with friends and family to develop resilience and emotional skills, and ensuring that screen time doesn’t interfere with essential activities, like a full night’s sleep and regular physical activity, are important considerations.
As we understand the situation today, the message is clear. Parents and caregivers must step in to establish limits and boundaries for screen time, ensuring the holistic well-being of their children.
