A recent study has unveiled a connection between babies aged one year and extended screen time, demonstrating that spending over four hours daily engaging with screens like televisions, computers, tablets, or smartphones can result in developmental setbacks in communication and problem-solving abilities at ages two and four.
Research encompassed more than 7,000 Japanese children
Published in the JAMA Pediatrics journal, the study indicates that infants who surpass their peers in screen time exposure experience delays in the refinement of fine motor skills, as well as personal and social capabilities, by the age of two. The research encompassed more than 7,000 Japanese children and relied on maternal reports to gauge the hours spent by one-year-olds on screens.
The study not only examined screen time but also evaluated toddlers‘ performance on various developmental assessments between the ages of two and four. Findings revealed that by age two, children who had dedicated up to four hours daily to screens were up to three times more likely to encounter setbacks in communication and problem-solving abilities. However, this association was not upheld by the age of four, leading researchers to speculate about possible explanations.
“We noticed that screen time during a child’s first year was linked to their fine motor skills, personal and social skills at the age of 2. However, this connection didn’t hold when they reached 4 years old. This might suggest that developmental delays seen in fine motor and personal and social skills at age 2 could have resolved themselves by age 4,” explained the researchers.
Furthermore, the study highlighted that children spending four or more hours daily in front of screens were nearly five times more likely to display inadequate communication skills, twice as likely to exhibit subpar personal and social skills, and nearly twice as likely to demonstrate insufficient motor skills.
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The study’s revelations extend to the age of four, with communication and problem-solving skills still emerging as areas of concern. Additionally, the research brought to light that mothers of children with extended screen time tended to be younger, first-time mothers, with lower income and education levels, and a heightened likelihood of experiencing postpartum depression.
The authors of the study emphasize that the research did not differentiate between screen time aimed at education versus entertainment purposes.
