7 Ways Screens Harm Your Child

Handheld electronics are everywhere, and babies are drawn to them like bees to honey. A child can have a roomful of colorful and exciting toys and books, but if a tablet or smartphone is nearby, they prefer to watch videos.

Parents want their babies to be happy, healthy, and thriving. Most tell themselves that educational content on a handheld device is safe and will prepare their child for school. However, the research clearly shows screens are harmful.

During a recent discussion I had with a local mother’s group, most agreed babies can be addicted to screens. Further inquiry revealed most did not know the extent of damage screens can cause to a child’s development.

7 Ways Screen Harm Your Baby

1. Increases isolation: It’s a common sight—-babies engrossed in videos, often alone. Moms, understandably busy, often resort to handing over a device. While this may keep the child happy, it’s important to note that this choice interferes with a child’s development, particularly their social and communication skills. The more they watch, the less they interact with others, look at books or play with toys.
2. Decreases attention span: Parents often say, “My baby will watch shows on her tablet for hours!” As a result, they believe their child has an incredible attention span. No, they don’t! Screens offer fast-moving content that holds attention, yet the content rapidly changes from one thing to another. If the content bores the baby, he quickly learns to poke or swipe the screen to find something more exciting. The child does not learn to remain focused on a challenging task, like stacking blocks or completing a puzzle.
3. Creates impatience: If something on the screen becomes boring or unwanted, a tot quickly learns to switch to something more interesting. And that change happens within seconds. Offscreen play is different. If the book is boring or the blocks don’t stay stacked, tossing them aside or having a fit does not change the situation. The books remain, and the blocks lie jumbled on the floor.
4. Causes weakness: Muscles must be used to gain strength and coordination. A child cannot learn to complete a puzzle by doing so on a screen. Doing real puzzles and scribbling on paper requires coordination and strength in the hands. Babies must learn to use their hands to do difficult activities requiring strength, coordination, patience, and persistence.
5. Impairs talking: Children learn to pronounce words by watching the faces and hearing the voices of those around them. Zoning out while watching a device, sometimes for hours, means the baby is not watching or talking to family members.
6. Decreases interactions: Humans need interaction with each other. Talking, showing interest, and learning to get along are vital skills children need. Interactions with machines (phones and tablets) harm a child’s ability to get along with others. Some experts think today’s young people are anxious and unable to cope because they never learned to interact, control their emotions in face-to-face interactions, or read non-verbal cues. If true, today’s babies will have even more trouble since they have been using screens longer.
7. Becomes addictive: Yes, babies can become addicted to screens, and most parents know it. Addictive behaviors block healthier play activities and lead to emotional meltdowns and family stress. The solution is to remove the screens, not to hand them over.

I work with moms every day who ask, “Why isn’t my baby talking?” “Why does my baby not enjoy books?” or “Why does my baby hit or bite?” While the answers to those questions are varied, overuse of handheld screens is often part of the reason.

Parents should ask themselves, “What value do handheld screens have for my baby’s development?” In many cases, most parents use handheld electronics for their own benefit and want to believe their child benefits, as well. Experts know that young children do not need screens at all. In fact, they'd be healthier without them. Share on X

If your goal as a parent is to raise a happy, healthy, and social child, reconsider handing them a smartphone or tablet, especially in those first three years of life. Breaking a screen addiction habit is hard, but knowing you contributed to your baby’s delays by allowing too much screen time is even harder.

 

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(Photo: Adobe Stock)

Disclaimer: All information presented is general education and is not intended as specific prescriptions for your child. If you have concerns about any aspect of your baby’s development, talk with your doctor. If your child receives any intervention or therapy, this information is not intended to be used without their knowledge.