How Screen Time Affects Toddler Social Skills: Tips for Parents (Image: Pexels)
As the debate on child development continues to pick up pace on World Autism Awareness Day, one factor that continues to be brought to light is the role of screen time in the early life of the child.
With the world becoming more dependent on technology, it has become necessary to know what is safe and what may be hazardous.As per the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, the guidelines regarding screen time for children are clear and structured. For children below the age of two years, the recommended amount of screen time is zero. However, the only exception to this would be video calling family members. For children in the range of two to five years, the recommended amount of screen time would be a maximum of one hour.
However, within the context of the recommended hour, the focus would be on co-viewing, where the parent would also be viewing the content.
Co-viewing would be strongly recommended to ensure a certain amount of socialization.
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The major concern linked with excessive exposure to screens is the effect it has on speech and language development. It has the potential to cause delays and mask developmental stages. This is due to the nature of communication.
The usage of screen is a one-way practice without communication. But for the mental and emotional growth, two-way communication is required. When they are instead engaging in screen play the urge to communicate would lessen, leading to speech development delays.The early signs of excessive use of screens by the child include decreased attention span, increased emotional or behavioral dysregulation, such as increased crying, tantrums, or stubbornness, especially when they are prevented from using screens.
A child who is excessively using screens may have little interest in other age-appropriate activities.There is also another side, which is much talked about, the relationship between screen use and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD. The term “virtual autism” was coined in 2018 by a clinical psychologist. It refers to the presence of autistic symptoms in children who are below the age of three and who use more than four hours of daily screen time.
The symptoms may include lack of eye contact, failure to respond to their name, and lack of social interaction whereas autism has neurodevelopmental causes.On the other hand, in neurodivergent children, the increase in the use of screens can be seen as an extension of the child’s behavioral traits. For example, in autistic children, the use of screens may be for the sensory experience they provide. Similarly, in ADHD children, the constant novelty and stimulation provided by the screens may be appealing.
Therefore, in such children, the overuse of screens may not be the cause but the consequence.Another effect of exposure to the screen may be on the attention span and the increase in hyperactivity. The content of the digital age has been created in such a way that it holds the attention of the viewer for longer period of time.There is a difference between passive viewing and interactive viewing. Some shows prompt children to participate, and these shows are slightly better.
Nevertheless, any time spent on screens can be interactive by the parent.The aim here is not complete elimination but regulation. Engaging children in other activities can also play a role in healthy development. As World Autism Awareness Day reminds us, awareness, timely intervention, and constant engagement are important in fostering a child’s potential to the fullest.Dr Gayathri K, Consultant – Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Maarga Mind Care, Yelahanka, Bangalore
