Parents’ screen time affects children’s mental health, a shocking new study finds

You don’t have to call as a parent

Screen-addicted moms and dads are destroying their children’s language development skills by typing, texting, tweeting and TikTokking, new data warns.

“Parental techno-reference”—the regular interruption of face-to-face interactions between parents and children due to the use of a screen device—has an impact on a child’s mental health, family relationships, and children’s cognitive development. € noted the authors of the study from the Estonian Institute of Psychology in a September. 11 carries. Â

The research team, led by Dr Tiia Tulviste of the University of Tartu, surveyed over 400 families with children under the age of 5 to determine the harmful effects of parents’ constant use of phones, computers, tablets and televisions.

Researchers found that toddlers tend to mimic their parents’ addiction to devices — meaning the more mom and dad indulge in screen time, the more the baby craves screens.

But their parents’ parroting ultimately stunts a child’s vocabulary and grammatical growth.

The findings echo those of Drexel University analysts who recently found that infants and toddlers with screen time privileges are more likely to exhibit atypical sensory behaviors associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

And earlier this month, Sweden’s Public Health Agency proposed banning children under 2 from using electronic devices. The health authority argued that access to technology causes poor sleep and mental health problems in tykes.Â

Tulviste’s research reinforces the recommendation – and suggests that adults should become more mindful of their machine use as well.

Alongside her co-authors, she surveyed 421 parents, asking them to estimate how much time each family member spends using different screen devices for different purposes on a typical weekend day. Tulviste also asked how much of that time would be spent using a screen as a family — like watching a movie together.

All study participants then completed a questionnaire assessing their toddler’s language skills. Based on the responses, the researchers categorized parents and their children into “high,” “low,” or “moderate” screen use groups.

After collecting the data, the scientists examined the language development of these children to find that the children who enjoyed less screen time scored higher in both grammar and vocabulary.

According to the results, no form of screen use, including family viewing time, had a positive effect on children’s language skills.

And video games—whether played by mom, dad, or the youngster—were mostly negatively associated with a child’s language skills.

“While reading e-books and playing some educational games can provide opportunities to learn the language, Tulviste said in a release. “Research shows that during the first years of life, the most influential factor is daily face-to-face parent-child verbal interaction.”