[Technology Saw] – A Recent Study Provides Answers as to Why Some Toddlers Are Addicted to Phones.
Highlights:
- The study found that higher parental stress levels were linked to increased screen time for toddlers.
- Parents with positive attitudes towards screen media showed a stronger link between parental stress and increased toddler screen time.
- Screen time habits in children were more influenced by age than socio-economic factors.
- The study tracked the relationship between parental stress and toddler screen time.
- Toddler screen time may serve as a coping mechanism for stressed parents.
- Building a healthy screen time schedule for toddlers.
So, researchers discovered a connection between the screen time of toddlers and the stress levels of their parents.
The study revealed that toddlers whose parents reported higher stress levels tended to spend more time on screen media.
Interestingly, this link was more pronounced among parents who had positive attitudes towards screen media.
Firstly, let’s break down what we mean by screen media. These are basically any videos or games you watch or play on electronic devices like TVs, computers, tablets or smartphones.
From cartoons to educational videos, screen media has become a big part of our lives, providing entertainment and learning opportunities.
Now, why are we talking about this?
Well, some people are worried that too much screen time might not be good for kids. Research from Germany shows that even toddlers aged 2–3 years are spending about an hour a day on screens.
As kids get older, they spend even more time on these devices. While screens can be fun and educational, too much screen time might mess with kids’ sleep and cause other problems.
The researchers, led by Valerie Brauchli wanted to dig deeper into how parents’ stress levels might be linked to their kids’ screen time.
Parental stress is all about the pressures and challenges of raising kids. Also, juggling work, money and taking care of yourself.
The researchers thought that parents who were more stressed out might let their kids spend more time on screens. That is especially true if they thought screens were a good thing. They looked at 462 parents with kids up to 3 years old, mostly from Switzerland.
The parents filled out questionnaires over 10 months. That is, talking about their kids’ screen time, how stressed they felt and what they thought about screen media.
Most of the parents were moms, and the kids were around 16 months old when the study started.
During the study, parents filled out online questionnaires for nine days in a row, talking about what their kids were doing and how they felt.
They also answered questions about how they felt about screen media, like whether they thought it was good for kids to use screens.
The results showed that when parents felt more stressed, their kids spent more time on screens. And the more parents liked screens, the more time their kids spent on them.
So, this link between stress and screen time was stronger for parents who had positive views of screen media.
The Outcome of the Study on Toddlers
The study also found that older kids spent more time on screens, but screen time wasn’t linked to how much money or education their parents had.
Overall, the researchers found that parents’ stress levels and their attitudes towards screen media were both connected to how much time their kids spent on screens.
In fact, parents who liked screens tended to let their kids spend even more time on them when they were stressed.
The researchers think that for some parents, letting their kids use screens might be a way to cope with the stress of parenting.
While this above study published in Computers in Human Behavior gives us some insight into how parents’ stress levels might influence their kids’ screen time, it’s important to remember that most of the participants were from Switzerland.
So, the results might not be the same in other countries and they might be different for older kids.
Still, it’s a reminder that screens can play a big role in family life. Also, how parents feel about screens can affect how much time their kids spend on them.
The Toddlers
Toddlers, typically between one and three years old, are at an exciting stage of development. They’re like tiny adventurers, constantly exploring and learning about the world around them.
Physically, toddlers are busy mastering new skills like walking and playing. They seem to have endless energy as they investigate everything they can reach and touch.
Cognitively, toddlers are like little sponges, soaking up knowledge rapidly.
They are starting to understand simple ideas like cause and effect, and they’re learning how to communicate their thoughts and feelings, even if their words aren’t always clear.
Emotionally and socially, toddlers are learning how to interact with others and express themselves.
They experience a wide range of emotions, from excitement to frustration, and they are learning how to handle these feelings and get along with others.
Parenting during the toddler years can be exciting but also challenging. Caregivers are tasked with providing love and guidance while also setting boundaries.
It’s a time filled with both joyful moments and inevitable struggles as toddlers and caregivers navigate this transformative period together. This is especially true in this digital age.
Building a Healthy Screen Time Schedule for Toddlers
It’s important to set boundaries on how much time toddlers spend in front of screens. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that kids between 2 and 5 years old shouldn’t have more than one hour of screen time per day.
This could be watching educational shows or playing age-appropriate games with mom or dad nearby.
Also, choose certain spots in your house, like the dining room or bedrooms, where screens aren’t allowed. This encourages family time without screens and helps everyone talk face-to-face more, which is good for building strong relationships.
It’s cool to balance screen time with other activities like playing outside, reading books, doing art or using your imagination to play make-believe games.
Trying out lots of different things helps toddlers learn all kinds of skills, not just from screens.
Use screens for learning.
When you do use screens, pick stuff that’s fun but also teaches things. Look for apps, games and shows that match what your toddler likes and help them learn new stuff, be creative, solve problems, and get better at social stuff.
Watching together and chatting about what you see can make it even more fun and educational.
More so, show your toddler how to use screens responsibly by doing it yourself. Try not to spend too much time on your own phone or tablet, especially when you’re hanging out with your little one or having meals together.
Instead, focus on doing stuff together offline and having fun.
Make a plan for when your toddler can have screen time during the day, like after they have played or before bedtime. Stick to these times and don’t use screens as a reward or punishment.
Keeping things consistent helps your toddler know what to expect and makes screen time feel normal, not like a big deal.
Parents can help their toddlers grow and learn while still enjoying technology. This is done by focusing on quality screen time and doing other fun stuff together.