Too much screen time dangerous for tots’ health : report
Preschoolers exposed to too much screen time are likely to suffer damaging behavioural and health issues, research has found.
The Growing Up in New Zealand study — tracking the development of approximately 7000 Kiwi children from before birth until adulthood — showed a “significantly low” number of children were meeting the national standard.
Under Ministry of Health guidelines, children under 2 years old should not be exposed to any screen time and youngsters between the age of 2 and 5 should be limited to less than an hour per day.
The University of Auckland study, conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development, showed only 18.4 per cent of 5000 children in the study were meeting that guideline by the age of 4 and a half years old.
Researchers said this was alarming as children who exceeded national guidelines were more likely to be obese, visit the doctor more, have lower physical motor skills, and may exhibit hyperactivity problems when they reached the age of 4½.
The data from the study found children were 1.27 times more likely to move from “normal weight” to “overweight” or “obese” when screen time recommendations were exceeded at the age of 2 years.
Early Childhood Council chief executive Peter Reynolds said there was no need for a complete ban on preschoolers’ exposure to screens, saying if use was monitored appropriately, there was a place for digital devices.
“They should not be used as a babysitter — which means children shouldn’t just be plonked in front of a TV to keep them entertained.
“However, children are remarkable sponges and we know the first 1000 days are crucial for learning so I think if screen time is controlled, it does serve a use.”
Reynolds saw no need for guidelines because the issue was
never black and white.
An Auckland mum-of-four, who asked not to be named, said issues with concentration, eyesight, language development and behavioural interaction from exposure to screens at that young age was well-known.
“We should be putting our children’s health needs before education because there are always other avenues of learning that don’t involve
screens,” she told the Weekend
Herald.
The study showed children were more likely to fall into the “abnormal category” when it came to social interaction, hyperactivity and emotional symptoms when exposed to screen time.
Researchers concluded the insight from the study could contribute to evidence-based policy relating to
screen use in early childhood.
Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni said this report provided “robust local data” that supported the existing guidelines.
“While some screen time can be beneficial for learning, that time needs to be balanced with regular physical activity and outside play, which we know are key to children’s development,” she said.