Childhood in the digital age. How screens influence the development of children and the relationship with parents
Children spend more and more time in front of screens, and experts warn that this habit can influence the way the little ones learn, sleep and interact with the world around them. The question is no longer whether technology is changing them, but how much and what parents can do to limit the negative effects.
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The impact of technology on children depends mainly on two factors: a digitized growing environment and hours spent daily in front of devices, often without any limits or supervision. In recent years, the international medical community has developed clear recommendations to reduce the negative effects of excessive screen use on children's development, according to material published in The Inquisitive Mind.
The generation of “screens”
We live in times where approximately 68% of the world's population owns a mobile phone. Technology has changed not only the way we communicate, but also the way we raise children. Those born and raised in constant contact with digital devices are known as “digital natives” – a generation for whom the screen is not a novelty, but a given.
There are currently two generations of digital natives: Generation Z, consisting of those born from the mid-90s to the early 2010s, and Generation Alpha, i.e. those born after 2010.
After 2007, with the release of the first iPhone by Apple, digital devices quickly spread to almost every household, and children who grow up in constant contact with these technologies are often called “the touchscreen generation” or “the screen generation”. Unlike previous generations, for them technology did not appear at a certain moment in life, but was present from the beginning, as shown in the same material.
Children and mobile phones
So, children's interaction with technology starts earlier and earlier. For example, in Italy, about 80% of 3-5 year olds already know how to use their parents' smartphone. The pandemic sped things up: if before the lockdowns only 9% of children aged 1-5 had their own phone, after the pandemic the percentage exceeded 14%. Among children aged 6-10, more than half already own a personal device.
In many cases, the phone ends up being used by parents to keep their children occupied or calm. Specialists call it “digital bonus”, a kind of emotional pacifier, always at hand, as the cited source shows.
How screens influence children's development
Recent studies show that early exposure to screens can influence children's development in several ways: learning, concentration, sleep, physical health and social relationships.
Learning and attention. Frequent use of screens can reduce concentration and cognitive performance in young children. However, under certain conditions, technology can also have positive effects.
For example, educational videos and interactive apps can support language learning, but only when used with a parent who can explain and contextualize the information.
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Brain development. Even the TV left on in the background can influence children's neurological development. It can affect children's attention, the quality of interaction with parents and the way children develop social relationships.
Children's brains are highly plastic, which means that experiences in the environment can influence its structure and functioning.
Health problems
Prolonged use of digital devices can also have health effects. Hours spent in front of screens are associated with a more sedentary lifestyle, weight gain, headaches and neck and shoulder discomfort. At the same time, some studies indicate links between the excessive use of screens and the appearance of behavioral problems, such as anxiety or aggression.
Sleep can also suffer. The light emitted by screens and stimulating content can disrupt the natural rhythm of sleep, and children who spend more than two hours a day in front of devices have a harder time falling asleep. Also, the presence of a television in the bedroom is associated with lower sleep quality and more frequent nightmares.
Prolonged use of smartphones and tablets can also affect vision. Common side effects include dry eyes, eye fatigue, irritation, and difficulty focusing. In some situations, doctors have also observed the appearance of forms of strabismus associated with excessive use of screens.
How technology affects the relationship between parents and children
A study conducted on children between the ages of 7 and 23 months shows that when the mother frequently uses the phone during interactions with the child, the communication between them becomes less effective, and the little one may experience more difficulties in regulating emotions. Over time, these effects can influence the development of language and social skills.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization and the Italian Society of Pediatrics recommend some clear limits on screen use. For children under 2, they should be completely avoided. Between 2 and 5 years, screen time should not exceed one hour a day, and between 5 and 8 years, no more than two hours.
Beyond the duration of use, how the devices are used also matters. Specialists recommend avoiding screens during meals or before bedtime and emphasize that they should not become a tool to calm children.
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Less time for play
One of the effects of excessive use of technology is the reduction of time spent in activities essential to child development, such as free play, environmental exploration or direct interaction with other children.
The symbolic game (the one where children use their imaginations to transform objects into something else) has an important role in cognitive development.
Nowadays, however, many children spend more time in front of screens than in outdoor play activities. Specialists point out that the healthy development of children depends on a balance between digital experiences and those in everyday life.
Technology can be a useful tool, but it should not replace social interactions, play, and exploration of the environment.
