Researchers at the Boston School of Medicine find that early exposure to tablets and smartphones have a detrimental effect on the mental and social growth of toddlers.
Quickly--how easily would you hand over your smartphone or tablet to your wailing toddler in an attempt to pacify him? Too easily, the majority of us would reluctantly agree.
Recent research has corroborated the things that ‘they’ say: that mobiles and tablets are affecting the development of toddlers in more ways than we can imagine. Researchers at the Boston School of Medicine in the US have found that preschool children who are overly exposed to touchscreen devices are at a greater risk of under-developing emotionally and socially.
“If these devices become the predominant method to calm and distract young children, will they be able to develop their own internal mechanisms of self-regulation?”, asks Dr Jenny Radesky, a clinical instructor at the university.
Excessive screen time could also take away from the time they would otherwise need to spend on physical activity, and hinder the development of key motor skills such as writing or using building blocks.
Take heart, it’s not all bad--here are 5 key points to bear in mind the next time you consider thrusting an iPad into the hands of your yelling child:
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The first response to a temperamental child should not be to use technology as a pacifier. Real, tactile, human interactions--playing with the child, taking them outdoors, reading to them--should be the first course of action.
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Tablet-based apps aimed at toddlers and children are not necessarily bad. Many are, in fact, created to instill skills such as problem solving, motor reaction, learning images and developing vocabulary. But it is important to try these apps yourself before deciding how apt they would be for your child.
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Over the course of the day, there should be clearly defined times for using tablets or smartphones. Like any other activity, time spent should be limited and within reason. Tip: implement blackout hours: for example, disable Internet or WiFi access during mealtimes and after bedtime.
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It is recommended that app-based learning should only be considered when children are closer to schooling age (about two-and-a-half years). With toddlers, they should be allowed to indulge in hands-on activities that form the core of sensorimotor and visual-motor skills--all of which form the foundation for subsequent math- and science-based learning.
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Even when considering apps for toddlers, experts recommend parents interacting with these apps in conjunction with their toddlers; not leaving their toddlers to play with these apps alone. Learning becomes most effective when the child experiences the teachings through human interaction and facial expressions along with a familiar adult.
"At this time, there are more questions than answers when it comes to mobile media," said Dr Radesky.
But at the end of the day no matter what the science, raising a child boils down to exercising moderation and common sense.
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