Parents’ screentime can affect child’s development

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – A study shows too much screentime may be delaying your child’s development. But this study isn’t about a child’s screentime — it’s about how much time parents are using screens around their children.

This latest study is in JAMA Pediatrics. Reseachers say the more you’re in front of a screen watching your shows and content, the fewer conversations and interactions you’re having with your child. They coined the term “technoference” — or technology-based interference.

Researchers say this is one of the first studies to have actual evidence tied to how much parents are on screens and how that’s impacting their kids.

It specifically looked at kids between 1 and 3 years old.

At the First Alert Safety Desk we’ve talked about how screens are linked to higher rates of obesity, depression, and even hyper-activity in kids. This study says it’s also impacting that important face-to-face interaction between you and your child during an important time in their development. Researchers say there could be long-term repercussions, especially when it comes to social skills and language development.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for kids under 18 months old and to make sure you watch kid-friendly programming with your child when they’re under the age of 3.

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