What’s the strongest argument against excessive screen time for children? It revolves around the concept of “opportunity cost.” When children spend time on screens, they miss out on valuable learning experiences. Dr. Aminuddin emphasizes that for toddlers to develop in terms of perception, language, movement, and social-emotional skills, they need to engage with the world firsthand. This includes playing with toys, exploring the outdoors, conducting experiments with various materials, and having interactive conversations with nurturing caregivers. When children are glued to screens, they forfeit opportunities for growth and learning.
This concern is even more pronounced for infants and toddlers, as there is no substantial evidence that they can learn anything meaningful from screens.
For preschool-aged children, research suggests shows like “Sesame Street” can enhance literacy and social skills, but this benefit only arises with limited viewing time. Excessive early exposure to digital media has been linked to obesity, largely due to reduced physical activity and outdoor time, as well as increased exposure to advertisements for sugary foods and beverages.
Children who spend prolonged periods in front of screens also miss out on quality interactions with their caregivers. As a result, they hear fewer words throughout the day, leading to delays in cognitive, language, and social development. Some studies have found a correlation between excessive screen time and behavioral issues, including ADHD; however, these studies do not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
An important question arises: Does screen time alter neurological connections in infants and toddlers? A small MRI study focused on preschoolers found that children who viewed screens for more than the recommended hour daily showed poorer development of the brain’s white matter, the part responsible for language and early literacy skills. However, Dr. Aminuddin notes that evidence regarding direct effects of screen time on brain development remains inconclusive.
Experts recommend that infants should be encouraged to play and explore rather than stare at screens. According to Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child, over one million neural connections are formed every second in the first three months of life, with crucial development driven by “serve and return” interactions between the infant and caregiver. When a baby coos or expresses a certain posture, a nurturing adult responds effectively. Without these significant interactions, the brain cannot develop positively.
However, such interactions do not occur when children are fixated on screens. A recent study in Japan highlighted that the more time one-year-olds spent in front of screens, the more likely they were to experience delays in communication and problem-solving skills by ages two to four. Particularly alarming was the finding that those who watched screens for over four hours a day showed especially pronounced delays.
Professor Nishi, a specialist in psychotherapy, explains that there is no need to shield infants’ eyes when a television is on in the home. “There’s been a lot of fear-based messaging directed at parents, but there’s no evidence that occasional exposure to television screens harms infants,” he says.
