It is high time for parents to take screen time of their kids seriously: A recent study finds screen time to hamper toddlers’ development

The tech-savvy generation of today is too much engrossed in their mobile phones and other electronic gadgets. It is high time that people must take cutting down their screen time more seriously. Especially, parents need to control how much time their kids are spending on phones.

A recent study has found out those kids, who spend more time watching screens, end up having worse scores in their developmental screening tests. The explanation is simple: when a kid is spending too much time on phones, they are not engaged in any physical activities; they are not talking, walking, or playing. These activities promote their overall development and cultivate basic skills.

There are enough arguments about the pros and cons of screen use at an early age. Any such argument related to parenting is always a sensitive issue as it is a personal subject for many and reliance on anecdotes is common here. It is through studies like this, the real enlightenment happens.

The research by the psychologists of the University of Calgary published in the JAMA journal Pediatrics, examined the effect of screen time on the basic skills and growth of kids, especially belonging to the age group of 2-5 years. Parents were asked to report their kid’s average screen time and also fill a questionnaire on motor and communication skills.

However, one important thing to note in the research was that the effect was not bidirectional. Though kids with more screen time usually had lower scores, vice versa was not necessarily true!