A Canadian study has discovered that smartphones may be slowing down children’s development.
The study which was carried out at the University of Toronto found that there may be a link between your child’s development and the amount of time they’re spending in front of a screen.
Technology plays a huge role in everyone’s lives today, but parents need to manage the amount of time their children are spending online.
The researchers found that 20 percent of the children that took part in their study spent up to 30 minutes a day in front of a screen.
894 children, aged between six months and two years of age, were involved in the study.
Dr. Catherine Birken, who was the senior author of the study, advises parents to limit toddler’s exposure to smartphones, “parents need to ensure their youngsters do not have unlimited access to them.”
It is believed that toddlers and babies are being exposed to screens more often than they should be. Screen time has become a regular part of their daily routines, but there are many risks that come with it.
Dr. Birken understands that the number of children using smartphones and tablets is growing, even though experts state that children under the age of two shouldn’t be spending any time in front of a screen.
According to Early Childhood Ireland, “children aged 2-5 years should have no more than an hour a day.” Children develop their speech and social skills through interacting with other people. Spending too much time in front of a TV or a computer will cause delays in this development.
The researchers discovered that the chances of speech development being delayed increased by 49 percent, for every half hour spent using a smartphone.
Too much screen time can have numerous negative effects on children, but it’s important to understand that there are positive sides to it. There are numerous educational sources online that can help children with schoolwork. It is believed that watching a film with their family can help kids strengthen your bond.
Early Childhood Ireland reassures parents that it is easy to manage your child’s relationship with their phone. They believe that sitting down and agreeing on a screen time plan with your child can help limit their exposure to screens.
Children are easily influenced by their parents, so if you spend an excessive amount of time on your phone, your child will start to believe that it is the normal thing to do. Early Childhood Ireland says, “modelling behaviour is the most powerful way you can influence your child’s behaviour.”
