According to a Canadian study, this is the age at which you should not give your children a phone or tablet
Technology has become the go-to solution for parents to entertain their children, but studies conducted in recent years advise against exposing children to screens for long periods of time.
The age at which they start interacting with an iPad, tablet or mobile phone is getting younger, with potentially devastating consequences for their early development. A study from the University of Sherbrooke (Canada) linked screens in children to problems controlling their emotions: parents often use this technology to calm them down during their usual tantrums.
Research confirms that a child’s constant exposure to screens not only affects their emotional management, but also their academic performance and social skills. Tablets and cell phones are a quick fix that only harms them in the long run due to their lack of interaction with the children and adults around them.
The study analyzed the cognitive and social communication abilities of 315 minors who used an iPad, tablet or mobile phone on a regular basis in 2020. Participants started using these devices at the age of 3 and a half for a year and then had their behavior measured through several questionnaires.
Researchers linked tablet use in 3-year-olds to increased expressions of anger and frustration. The tantrums continued over the next year, although they decreased after age 5.
The study did not take into account the type of content the child was exposed to, for example, whether they were reading a children’s book or watching a YouTube video. Nor did the parents interact with them in any way while they were using the devices.
Children spend an average of 6 hours and 42 minutes per week using tablets at first, and that total increases to 7 hours by the time they’re 4 1/2 years old. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting use to one hour per day (7 hours per week total) for children ages 2 to 5 and monitoring the content they consume.