Can using mobile devices to calm young children negatively affect their behavioral development?
- Yes, parents often use digital devices as a quick distraction for agitated children, but this can affect the child’s emotional understanding and coping skills
- Maybe, the child's complete reliance on a device hinders self-development and results in a lack of emotional intelligence, impulsiveness, and mood swings
- No, children often acquire skills and knowledge from digital devices at a young age, which can be beneficial for their future development
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Recent research has indicated that using digital devices such as smartphones and tablets to calm upset preschool children may lead to more severe behavioral issues in the future. While this strategy may seem harmless, it can have long-term consequences if it becomes a regular go-to method for soothing. It may displace opportunities for children to develop alternative self-regulation methods, especially during early childhood, when fostering independent emotional coping skills is essential.
The study involved 422 children aged 3-5 and their parents, who were surveyed about their device use as a calming tool and the children’s emotional reactivity over six months. The study occurred between August 2018 and January 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic. The results indicated that using devices as a calming tool was strongly associated with emotional dysregulation, especially in young boys and children with hyperactivity, impulsivity, and a strong temperament. The preschool-to-kindergarten period is a critical developmental stage where children may exhibit challenging behaviors such as tantrums and intense emotions, making it more tempting for parents to use devices as a parenting strategy.
According to the study, frequent use of devices as a calming tool was associated with increased emotional dysregulation in boys and children who are hyperactive, impulsive, or have a strong temperament. Signs of dysregulation include sudden mood swings, heightened impulsivity, and rapid emotional shifts. Therefore, the findings suggest that relying on devices to calm agitated children may be especially problematic for those struggling with emotional coping skills.
https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/technology/study-finds-using-digital-devices-as-calming-strategy-linked-to-worse-children-s-behavior/ar-AA18gBA0?cvid=8204a18430e34e70e739f9ab79248ee7&ocid=winp2fptaskbar&ei=28
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