New Delhi: Toddlers are likely to throw more tantrums and suffer from angry outbursts if they have excessive screen time. The trick which is a common parenting fix can be detrimental for children in the long run or in the years to come and this was found by research. Researchers noted that the gadgets were associated with an increase in angry outbursts by 20% if used for more than an hour every day. The authors of the study also noted that the use of screens at the age of 3.5 years was linked with proneness to frustration and anger a year later.
How does screen time affect mental health in children?
Researchers found that screens are parents’ go-to method to calm children down in the minute when it damages their long-term emotional control. The study involved 315 parents from Nova Scotia, Canada from 2020-2022. On average, children in these families had a screen time of six-and-a-half hours every week. It was also found that three-year-olds who spent one hour and 15 minutes more than the average were 22% more likely to deal with anger and frustration after a year. It was found that the angriest children were aged 4 years and their tablet user was heaviest at 5.
Researchers wrote about the same in the journal JAMA Pediatrics and found that the use of screens can undermine a child’s ability to manage emotions during a daily routine. Additionally, children who expressed more anger resort to digital solutions to curb their outbursts. Canadian experts also found that although tablet use is common, children require human interaction more to develop social skills and emotions. But there is also evidence that children learn emotion management through parents.
Negative effects of screen time on health
Frequent use of screens can curb learning opportunities in children and those who fail to develop these strategies of anger management are more prone to poor social outcomes, health, and academics. It is advised for parents to come up with newer and better techniques for anger management rather than relying on screens to do the trick. TV screens, phones, and computers damage a lot more than vision, and most of it is because it results in a sedentary lifestyle, weight gain, obesity, and sometimes stress.
Researchers found that screens are parents’ go-to method to calm children down in the minute when it damages their long-term emotional control. The study involved 315 parents from Nova Scotia, Canada from 2020-2022. On average, children in these families had a screen time of six-and-a-half hours every week. Health News Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
