Numbers like this might seem small at first, but they represent a rapidly growing trend that affects children across nearly every age group, including infants and toddlers. It shows how easy it is for a piece of electronic screen to become a significant part of your children’s early childhood, when the foundations of their lives start to take shape. And this can have dire consequences.

This article will discuss the hard-crunching topic of why you should be more worried about your children’s screen usage and how something so simple could permanently affect your children’s developmental milestones for years to come. 

Slight warning before continuing: This article contains a real call-out to all parents of young children about the hidden, long-term damage of screen time for their development. Read more to learn how you can prevent your children’s early screen-time addictions. 

What science says about excessive screen time and child development

What is considered excessive screen time usage in childhood? It all depends on your children’s age. According to the World Health Organization, screen time is not recommended for children under the age of 1 year old, and only less than an hour for children aged 1-2 years old. But in reality, children spend way more time on screen-based media than recommended. 

A 2023 study of Australian infants found that at six months, infants were already exposed to an average of 1 hour and 16 minutes of screen time, with only 11.3% children meeting the recommendation of no screen time. 

With the growing number of hours children spend on screens, scientists around the world are continually seeking to discover the positive or detrimental effects of this phenomenon on children’s developmental outcomes, which are further divided into cognitive, behavioral, and physical categories.

The following sections discuss the existing evidence. 

Cognitive and neurological effects

Excessive screen time in early childhood can affect children’s cognitive development across many domains, including intelligence and language.

A 2022 global narrative study finds that going over the recommended hours by the World Health Organization, which is over 2 hours of screen time for children between the ages of 15 and 48 months, had a 4 times higher chance of experiencing language development delay. 

And not just that; intelligence development could also be stunted by excessive screen time. Singapore’s national study finds that longer screen time for 12-month-old infants could result in a 1.55 lower IQ score and be 6.2 times more likely to have an IQ score below 70. 

But what is the actual reason why excessive screen time could harm cognitive and language development? The main reason lies inside the brain, specifically in the integrity of the white matter that supports language development. 

In particular, studies regarding brain white matter are usually conducted using a MRI technique called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), which quantifies the microstructure of the white matter using parameters called fractional anisotropy (FA), radial diffusivity (RD), axial diffusivity (AD), and mean diffusivity (MD). In particular, higher FA is associated with better performance in language processing, including grammar, phonological awareness, and semantics. 

A scan study with 47 healthy toddlers using the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) method found that higher reported screen time is correlated with 16% lower FA. This paints a clearer picture that higher screen time leads to lower activity inside the brain, potentially contributing to language development delay, which is supposed to thrive in children’s first years of life. 

Behavioral and emotional consequences

Excessive screen time has significant downstream effects on a range of behavioral and emotional problems.

Behavioral scientists often use the term ‘behavioral problems’ to describe specific shortcomings in children’s behavior, such as inattention, impulsivity, and difficulty following through with routines. While ’emotional problems’ are shortcomings more closely related to how a child experiences and reacts to daily situations, such as feeling anxious, being easily irritable, and struggling to express emotions.

Multiple extensive studies have found that excessive screen time is one of the few consistent factors that appear in studies for children with behavioral and emotional problems. One of them is a global study of toddlers aged 15 – 41 months across 14 countries, which shows that for every 1-point increase in time spent watching television, toddlers score 0.16 points higher on emotional reactivity tests and 0.27 points higher on attentional problem tests. 

Additionally, children with more than one hour of daily screen time were 60% more likely to show lower social competence and 29% more likely to be less emotionally mature. 

In the longer term, a longitudinal study across Canada of 3,455 toddlers finds that use of more than 2 hours of screen time is 5 times more likely to exhibit externalizing behavior and 5.9 times more likely to experience problems with focusing than children with less than 30 minutes of daily screen time. 

Across scientific studies, excessive screen time has been connected with various adverse outcomes for children’s behavior and emotional development. Less than 1 hour is generally the recommended time allowed for children using screen-based technology and content.

Physical health and lifestyle patterns

Excessive screen time could unintentionally contribute to children’s physical and lifestyle health. 

Global study across 33 countries finds that only 14.3% of children aged between 3 and 4 years old met the WHO guidelines for physical activity, screen time, and sleep duration. WHO recommends that children engage in 180 minutes of physical activity daily, limit daily screen time to less than 1 hour, and sleep 10-13 hours per day. This implies that across the world, 85.7% of children do not meet one of the requirements.

Moreover, the CDC survey finds that only 61.1% children aged 12-17 years old spend 60 minutes/day being active. Crucially, this study highlights that screen time is one of the culprits, with only 54.4% of participants in the high-screen time group meeting that criterion.

Less time spent on physical activity could lead to serious health issues, one of which is obesity. A longitudinal study following pre-term children until 3 years of age has found that there is a 41% higher risk of being obese in the higher screen-time group (more than 1 hour/day). 

Furthermore, screen time could disrupt children’s sleep patterns. A concerning 20% of American parents reported that their children use screens to fall asleep every night. The irony is that research from The Journal of Pediatrics finds that each hour of screen time is associated with 8 minutes less sleep each night, while children with limited screen time reported sleeping 26 minutes more. 

These findings highlight a concern that screen time is unintentionally undermining children’s physical and sleep health.

Screen time can certainly harm, but it doesn’t always have to. The following section will discuss screen-time guidelines available for every age group. 

AAP and global screen time guidelines

There are usually two main guidelines on children’s screen time: one is published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the other, more commonly used, is published by the World Health Organization (WHO). Both emphasize the appropriate age and the total duration for which children can be allowed to interact with screen-based media. 

According to AAP, the content and quality of screen time are as important as the total duration spent on it. This guideline emphasizes that parents utilize screen time by providing high-quality and educational content instead of as a distraction.

Below are the screen time recommendations by age category published by AAP:  

While the World Health Organization version focuses more on mapping out all the general criteria to promote children’s health development, including limiting screen time. Below are the guidelines published by WHO (in a 24-hour day) for young children and teenagers: 

Overall, these two guidelines emphasized that limiting the duration of screen time is the way to go. Young children should consume screen time that is appropriate and mindful for their age cohort. Combining both guidelines could serve as a way for parents to address the confusion between screen time guidelines, as both have the same function and can be implemented side-by-side. 

How much time screen time kids actually get

Despite the recommendation to limit children’s screen time to less than 1 hour/day. Reality speaks for itself: Common Sense Media surveyed 1,578 American parents and found that children under 2 years old spent an average of 1 hour and 3 minutes. In contrast, children between the ages of 5 and 8 years old reported 3 and a half hours of screen time daily in 2024. 

Another study among 1,500 children aged 8 to 18 years old in the United States finds that the average time spent on screens is around 7.5 hours a day. At the same time, recent data about teens is from the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2021 to 2023, which finds that 50.4% teenagers aged between 12 and 17 years spend more than 4 hours daily on screen time. 

While you may think that screen-based media and gadgets can be a lifesaver to entertain your children while you run errands, it is important to remember that “only this time” or “only for 1 or 2 hours” can turn into a bad habit that can stretch out longer than it should because the screen is addictive, especially as children get older. 

But you can put a stop to it before it becomes too late. Because if there are a few things you can control regarding your children’s screen time consumption, it is their content and the rules around it.

Comparing educational vs. entertainment screen use

Based on screen-time reports and research, it is clear that total screen time rises steadily as children grow older.

While the total duration of screen time is important to manage, it’s not the end of the story. Screen time can be valuable, too. Introducing educational content that is suitable and appropriate for young children could help children interact and learn with the help of screen time, instead of just passively watching it. 

Now this is where you come in: be more aware and selective about the types of content you allow your children to watch and hear. The benefits of young children watching higher-quality, age-appropriate programs are highlighted in a meta-analysis of 18,905 global participants, which finds that this type of content is associated with stronger children’s language skills.

Additionally, the later introduction of screen time also helps children to develop stronger language skills. 

But remember one thing: being selective about the content your children can consume doesn’t mean it can replace real-time interaction with you. Using screen time can be beneficial as a complement to your parenting strategies, especially when you use it to its full potential rather than relying on it. 

Evidence-based strategies for mindful screen use

It’s easy to let yourself have a quiet time by relying on screen time to distract your children. It gives you a few minutes to run your day’s errands without having to attend to your children constantly, or even some much-needed R&R. But what starts as just a few minutes can quickly turn into a bad habit if you let it. 

You can prevent bad habits if you recognize that screen time is a learning tool for your children, not a replacement for them. By remembering that, you can use it to its full potential rather than relying on it entirely.

Here are a few practices you can implement in approaching screen time for your children: 

Set data-informed boundaries

Based on the WHO and AAP guidelines, you now know the maximum screen time appropriate for your children, based on their age. But now you have to worry about how to implement those guidelines without resorting to power struggles with your children. This all could start early, with setting tight boundaries regarding the use of screen time in your children’s lives.

Here are some evidence-based strategies that parents can use to implement boundaries regarding screen time:

• Keep a steady no-device routine. Keeping a consistent schedule for screen time can prevent your children from being glued to their devices, as one study in Canada found that greater instability in parent-implemented routines can lead to an average of 5.2 additional minutes of screen time. For example, you could implement a rule for no screens during family meals or game nights. 
• Set and enforce firm limits on screen time. Start implementing firm rules about screen time early in children’s lives. According to a Pew Research Center study, most parents reported rules about screen time duration, but only 20% can always stick to them. Similar to routine, consistency matters for young children because limits teach them structure and help them develop healthy screen time habits.
• Use it as a bonding and learning experience. Turn screen time into an interactive bonding with your children by enjoying them together. Watching together, or co-viewing, provides parents with opportunities to ask their children open-ended questions about the content, promoting children’s healthy learning and development.

Read more: How to Help Children Develop Healthy Screen Time

Replace screen time with enriching alternatives

While limiting screen time is no doubt beneficial for children’s development, so is promoting other activities that can boost their healthy development.

Other activities without screen time, such as encouraging outdoor physical activity, exploration, and reading, can help foster children’s healthy development. Here is some activity you can do with your children in place of screen time: 

• Physical activity or outdoor exploration. In a youth study across the United States, it was found that just substituting 30 minutes of socializing, streaming, or gaming with physical activity is associated with a significant reduction in body-mass index score, effectively preventing youth obesity risk. 
• Reading together. Reading together can be a chance to bond with your children, while also helping them sleep better. For example, you can read a book together with your children before bedtime.

Read more: Too Little Activity, Too Much Weight: Sedentary Lifestyle and Obesity in Children

Model behavior backed by science

All the limitations and routines regarding screen time would be for nothing if you do not uphold the same standard. Young children are observant and quickly learn from their parents’ behavior. Therefore, merely implementing rules without following them yourself would send the message that the rules are meaningless.

In a representative survey of American parents, 65% admitted to spending too much time on their smartphones. While this number might seem harmless, young children notice whenever their parents choose to pay attention to their smartphones. As shown in a study in the Philippines, children are 4.19 times more likely to use screen time excessively if their parents do too, and nearly 9 times more likely if they are left alone. 

The findings above show that parents should uphold the same rules and limitations they impose on their children. By modelling a healthy approach to screen time usage, children learn way more effectively without the power struggle. 

Read more: Digital Boundaries: Creating a Screen-Free Home for Better Focus and Family Time

In conclusion

Behavioral and cognitive scientists have concluded that excessive screen time can definitely harm your children’s development. But it doesn’t always have to be that way. If managed and appropriately regulated, screen time could be your partner in parenting your children through the various educational and bonding moments available for each age cohort.

Instead of outright banning screen-based media for your children, which is often not feasible, you can instead be actively in charge of it. Start by being more aware of its possible consequences, when it is too much, and how to effectively manage it without relying on it.  Awareness about all these makes a huge difference.

Incorporating small changes that can help your children form early healthy habits with screen time, instead of being addicted to it.

If you want to see more resources on screen time, check out the Parenting Science Labs. The lab uses the research of the Institute for Life Management Science to produce courses, certifications, podcasts, videos, and tools. Visit the Parenting Science Labs today.

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The post Life by the Numbers: Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Child Growth and Behavior appeared first on Insights.

At the global level, it’s estimated that one in three children is an internet user, and they start accessing it at a younger age. This early exposure to the internet has increased children’s “screen time.” Screen time refers to the total amount of time that children spend engaging in various activities like physical and sedentary activities in front of a screen, such as a computer, TV, tablet, or any other digital device, for educational and entertainment purposes.  Experts say that children’s screen time should be based on their stage of development: 

1. no use for children under the age of two; 
2. no more than one hour per day for children aged two to five; and
3. no more than two hours per day for children aged five to seventeen. 

This will help them get the most out of screen time while minimizing its negative effects. Unfortunately, not all children use screens for the recommended period. In a study of 630 children aged 12 months, the most common way children were first exposed to digital media was through TV (33%), followed by smartphones (16.9%). Both were typically exposed at the age of 8 months. 

Parents continue to be concerned about how much time their children should spend in front of a screen and what they can do to assist their children in establishing healthy screen habits. Through the article, parents can understand what effects screen time has on children and what practices parents can use to assist the children in developing healthy screen habits.

Risks of excessive screen time

Many children and adolescents’ lives are now being influenced by new technological devices and modes of communication (smartphones, tablets, computers, etc.). For instance, computer use has increased rapidly worldwide in recent years. From 2001 to 2016, the estimated prevalence of computer use outside of school or work for more than 1 hour per day or more increased from 43% to 56% among children aged 5 to 11 years, and from 53% to 57% among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years. 

Children’s excessive screen time might lead to screen addiction. Screen addiction is described as excessive, uncontrollable, and compulsive screen media consumption. Internet addiction, digital game addiction, computer addiction, TV addiction, smartphone addiction, and so on are all examples of screen addiction.  Addiction to screens can induce maladaptive symptoms such as the inability to control cravings, withdrawal/avoidance, and decreased productivity. Excessive screen time can endanger children’s health and development in various ways such as:

Obesity

Increased screen time in children and adolescents can be a risk factor for being overweight/obese. Spending more than 2 hours a day in front of a screen can increase the risk of being overweight/obese due to decreased physical activity, increased sedentary behavior, extended time of food intake, and eating more food. Obesity harms both physical and mental health, resulting in a lower quality of life. As a result, being overweight/obese has become a huge public health issue.

Mental health

Mental health, defined as a positive state of psychological well-being, is essential to having a good quality of life, particularly during childhood and adolescence. Screen time had more substantial associations with mental health. Childhood and preadolescent screen time (particularly related to sedentary activities) had a deleterious impact on preadolescent and adolescent mental health. 

Excessive screen time is associated with an increased risk of illness and all-cause mortality, as well as decreased social connection and social support, which can lead to mental health problems.

Behavior problems

Certain types of screen time and content were found to be strongly related to children’s problem behaviors: 

• increased time spent watching TV or movies was associated with an increase in social issues, thought problems, rule-breaking behavior, and aggressive behavior; 
• increased time spent playing video games was associated with higher levels of social withdrawal, social isolation, and internalizing problems; and 
• increased time spent playing/watching mature-rated video games was associated with higher levels of somatic complaints, aggressive behavior, rule-breaking behavior, and decreased sleep duration. 

Excessive screen time has been shown in studies to be harmful to children’s health and development. However, the latest research indicates that modest levels of exposure may not be detrimental and may even be beneficial. Even though they are small, there are some positive links between children’s spending between 1 and 2 hours a day on digital media and their psychosocial functioning. The relationships are parabolic, with children with levels of digital involvement of 1 hour 3 minutes and 1 hour 19 minutes demonstrating higher levels of psychosocial functioning than nonusers. Children who used digital devices for less time had a favorable association between their digital engagement and psychosocial functioning, whereas children who used digital devices more frequently had the reverse trend.

Tips to maximize the benefits of screen time

There will be dozens of practices that parents can learn to use with children to help them build healthy screen habits. However, the three practices listed below can serve as a starting point for you and your children to learn how to build healthy screen habits together. Through the experience of implementing the suggested practices below, you can understand what kinds of practices truly work for your family and even personalize them based on your family’s needs.  

Practice a healthy technology diet

A healthy technology diet teaches children self-regulation skills such as avoiding toxic technology, limiting junk technology, and consuming healthy technology as part of a balanced lifestyle. 

It’s never a good idea to use technology late at night when it keeps you from sleeping. It’s also never a good idea to use technology to escape from anxiety or sadness. Discussing these topics with children can help them understand how their technology use affects their emotions and behaviors, allowing them to make better decisions for themselves. 

Websites, apps, and platforms that promote the release of endorphins, oxytocin, and serotonin in children’s brains are examples of healthy technology. This type of technology will inspire children to engage in the three Cs: (self-)care, connection, and creation. Children should be encouraged by their parents to use their screen time to care for themselves, communicate with others, or be creative. 

Parents can be flexible when it comes to healthy technology and enable their children to enjoy discovering the world online as long as they balance their time with other beneficial real-life activities. 

Parents should consider the following healthy technology factors when selecting technology for their children:

Technology that releases endorphins

Endorphins are a neurochemical connected with happiness and bliss, as well as the body’s natural painkillers. Technology that promotes self-care activities such as mindfulness, gratitude, and cardiovascular activity will enhance the endorphin system.

Technology that releases oxytocin

When we build meaningful relationships and interactions with others, oxytocin is released, making us feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. FaceTime with family and friends, positive social media, and community-building activities such as online activism or fundraising are all instances of technology that will increase oxytocin release. In general, the release of oxytocin by this type of technology is favorable.

Technology enabling serotonin release

Serotonin, the brain chemical that makes us creative, happy, and confident, is made when we use technology to create, invent, and get better at something we’re interested in. For example, using technology to create art, graphics, and websites, or learning to read or do Math, will help children release serotonin. Participating in online activities that promote creative thinking, independent problem-solving, and leadership can also aid in the production of serotonin.

Schedule technology time

Planning meaningful technology use around life activities rather than living around technology will help children prioritize real-world activities as they become older and understand the role technology should play in their everyday lives. When your children are using screens, be present and involved. 

Find out what technology interests, passions, and concerns the children have, and talk about any issues or problems that may occur. Begin by discussing your children’s favorite games, shows, apps, and characters, as well as the ideas and concerns they have while watching TV or playing a game. This is a chance to spend time with your child and learn from and teach them at the same time.  When creating a technology schedule, parents should keep the following rules in mind:

• Make a list of twenty-four lines. These will be the 24 hours of the day.
• Make time for sleep, hygiene, eating, housework, exercise, relationships, school, schoolwork (including technology), and non-tech play. You may also need time for other vital family activities such as church/mosque attendance, service work, and pet care.
• The extra time can be used for technology, but it is not required.
• Help children identify and question stereotyping, advertising messaging, and other harmful things. Inquire about their perspectives on such issues.

Establish a screen-free week

The screen-free week involves measuring how much time children spend in front of screens at home for a week and then planning alternative activities for children to spend that time with their friends and family rather than sitting in front of the screen. The goal of a screen-free week is to avoid using screens for entertainment to enjoy the world around us. 

Even if your child does not spend much time in front of a screen, you should urge them to participate in the screen-free week project because it will immerse them in an experience that they can share with their peers and enjoy with their family. 

If the children see a family member using a mobile device, the primary objective of the project will be altered. As a result, being a positive role model for the children is critical to the week’s accomplishment. Every good tour begins with planning and prepping.  Parents must take the following steps to ensure the success of a screen-free week:

1. It is critical that everyone in the family commits to making a screen-free week a success for everyone. When adults are fully committed, children believe that everyone is participating and taking the event seriously.
2. Decide what “screen-free” means for your family. Are email and text messaging available? Will you keep using Skype to speak with family members who live in another state or country? Will older kids utilize a computer to do their homework? There is no “right” or “wrong” way to achieve this, but make sure everyone is on the same page about their commitment.
3. Make weekly plans as a group. Begin early in the planning process to ensure that everything is in place and ready to go for a screen-free week. Make certain that everyone (who can) has a specific responsibility and an equal vote on critical decisions.
4. Create a weekly calendar of activities and events. One goal of a screen-free week is to encourage children to create their screen-free activities and games. However, it is crucial to organize some family activities early in the week, especially if this is your first time interacting as a family so that everyone can adapt to being screen-free.
5. Make family meals a time for conversation and/or story sharing. Plan your meals ahead of time and, if feasible, involve the entire family in meal preparation and presentation.
6. Invite others to join. Involve friends, relatives, and neighbors in your activities, even if it is only for a single day or evening, such as gathering with other families in a park to play organized games or simply hanging out.
7. Discuss how you feel at the conclusion of the week, what you’ve all done, and which parts of the week you’d like to continue. The idea is to find out how everyone feels and discuss the advantages and problems, both to figure out how to better the screen-free week for next time and to reduce your reliance on screens throughout the year.

In conclusion

As technology has become an unavoidable part of the lives of parents and children, It is nearly hard not to engage with and use technology in daily life. While excessive screen time has been determined to be harmful to children’s health and development, it has also been discovered that moderate screen time will benefit children. As a result, parents need to guide their children’s ownership, use, and engagement with their screen devices.

For more screen time management tips, tricks, and hacks, visit the Parenting Science Labs. The learning resources produced by the lab is based on research by the Institute for Life Management Science and ranges from interactive quizzes to full courses and certifications. Visit the Parenting Science Labs today.

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