Screen time linked to delays in socioemotional development

Overuse of digital devices may be exacerbating behavioral challenges in preschool-aged children.

By Lexi Brittingham

Educators and child development specialists are witnessing firsthand what medical research is only beginning to confirm as children gripping tablets in carpool lines become a frequent sight at local schools.

While the American Academy of Pediatrics concludes that young children may benefit from up to an hour of high-quality supervised screen time per day, medical literature suggests that caregivers are exposing children to amounts substantially exceeding developmental recommendations.

65% of children between the ages of 2 and 5 surpass pediatric screen time guidelines, with some 2-year-old children reportedly being exposed to over 2 hours a day.

These early habits are directly linked to long-term consequences, including socioemotional delays and shortened attention spans.

Screens offer solace

Dr. Kelley Mayer White, program director of Early Childhood Education at the College of Charleston, believes that rising stress levels may be contributing to caregivers’ increased propensity to offer screens.

“The Surgeon General has expressed concern about rising parent stress levels today, and I worry that one consequence may be an increased willingness to hand over devices to prevent children from having meltdowns,” White shared. “It can be tempting for parents and caregivers to give their children a screen to keep them occupied when needed.”

Misinformation-induced anxieties may also be contributing to decisions made by caregivers when managing free time.

“I believe that parental stress plays a significant role in this issue,” White said. “Many parents express concerns about letting their children play outside, citing that we live in a dangerous world. This anxiety often stems from the media they consume. In reality, the rates of child kidnapping and similar incidents are actually lower today than in the past.”

While messy crafts or outdoor sports require more supervision and involvement, they have a major impact on a child’s ability to develop coordination, patience, and a range of other critical skills in the most vital years of development.

“It's also challenging to resist this temptation, especially when so many others are doing the same,” White shared. “I've noticed an increase in parents handing their phones to young kids in strollers and at restaurants.”

Navigating boredom

While the convenience of screens may be appealing to caregivers as a way to fill free time, digital distractions can hinder children’s ability to focus on tasks and manage periods of unoccupied time without the support of external stimulation.

Nikki Zahedi, a preschool teacher of 2-year-old children, believes that the accessibility of screen time may also be impeding opportunities for creativity and exercise.

“What I find most surprising is how little time they seem to spend outside or engaging in creative activities, even though their families have the means to provide these opportunities,” Zahedi said. “They’re not doing anything creative like making art; they’re not doing any physical action, they just turn into zombies and it makes it difficult for them at school to pay attention in class or socialize with their peers.”

She observes a correlation between children with frequent

screen use at home and their behaviors in the classroom, suggesting that constant stimulation provided by screens may make it more challenging for children to adapt to structured settings.

“My students that are hooked to the screen are usually the same kids who will not take ‘no’ for an answer, usually turning into a temper tantrum,” Zahedi shared. “I had a student who would leave the carpool line holding an iPad, and was welcomed back in the car in the afternoon with an iPad. The student would demand cartoons [in school], cry when the board was turned off, and refuse to do anything.”

Researchers associate shortened attention spans with high screen time use, potentially making it more difficult for caregivers to entertain children during free time.

“I believe that if a child is very attached to screens, it can be more challenging to engage them,” White said. “It also seems that children who spend a lot of time on screens have difficulty handling boredom.”

Impact on development

Caregivers, educators, and clinicians report that preschool-aged children exhibit frustration and anger when removed from electronic devices, suggesting that excessive exposure to screens may be exacerbating the frequency of meltdowns and tantrums.

These outbursts parallel withdrawal-like symptoms in children, raising concern for the addictive nature of screens potentially affecting dopamine regulation.

Children exhibiting these behaviors are likely to be pacified with more screen time, creating a cycle that limits their opportunities to develop emotional regulation skills as they age.

“I had a [student] in my class who had no access to electronics at home – this includes the TV,” Zahedi shared.

“She also happened to be the only student who could swing all by herself, retained the most information in class, never had an accident at school, and could control her temper better.”

This pivotal window of emotional growth substantiates the necessity of frequent self-regulation skill

practice with a caretaker when a child’s socioemotional development is most fundamentally shaped.

Excessive screen time may deprive children of these opportunities by serving as a rapid remedy to emotional hurdles, while simultaneously heightening feelings of anxiety.

Without sufficient self-regulation practice, young children become at risk for a myriad of developmental challenges, including emotional reactivity and comprehension.

Risks of overstimulation

Not only are these devices causing bouts of emotional turmoil upon their removal, but they may also be contributing to more serious delays down the line as caregivers routinely pacify their toddlers with flashing colors and frenzied noises.

Digital media specifically designed to capture the attention of young children create dynamics paralleling addiction, substantiating the importance of following pediatric guidelines – especially in daily routines.

Hannah Smith, a preschool teacher of 3-year-old children, believes that the effects of screen time heavily depend on the content being shown.

“I think that parents definitely need to be more aware of the types of shows they’re letting their kids watch because it can be a crutch, giving them an iPad and letting them pick what they watch,” Smith said. “Maybe limit those crazy colorful shows – they can have that in small doses maybe but still make sure to enrich them with the educational learning as well.”

Fast-paced and frantic shows are associated with a variety of behavioral issues, including executive functioning skills.

“I'd definitely think that it's still okay to have, but I think that the amount of it and the kinds of shows that the kids are watching is what needs to be monitored as well,” Smith shared. “With the lights and the colors, there's no quiet time for them to process what's going on.”

Smith adds that there may be benefit in limited screen time when used as an educational tool.

“I do find that shows that deal with social and emotional development – that teach kids how to deal with their emotions and how to interact with children who might be different from them – I think those kinds of shows are definitely helpful,” Smith said.

Balancing relief and responsibility

Anne Davis, a nanny experienced with preschool-aged children, acknowledges the much-needed opportunity for relief that screen time can provide to caregivers.

“I empathize with parents who just need a breather sometimes and will [offer screen time] so that they can relax for the first time all day,” Davis shared. “I think it can be useful to give parents a little break.”

48% of parents report overwhelming levels of stress, which has been consistently rising over the past decade.

“I think that the busier the parents are, the more likely they are to use screens,” Davis said. “Families where both parents are always busy and working are also more likely to be fine with screens, because they just have other priorities that need their attention instead of entertaining their kids.”

While navigating tantrums and burnout without relying on screens can be difficult, the lifelong benefits suggest a promising future for children.

“It is hard to look at the bigger picture or the long term consequences in the moment,” Davis shared. “I think that setting healthy boundaries and habits will carry into their lives as adults.”