Canadian scientists do not recommend that parents of young children use tablets and other gadgets to calm their tantrums.
This issue is currently still being studied, but researchers are already talking about the unpleasant consequences of such decisions.
Researchers at the University of Sherbrooke in Canada believe that children who use gadgets from an early age are more likely to experience bouts of anger.
These conclusions were made after a survey of more than 300 parents of preschoolers, and the results of the study were published in JAMA Pediatrics.
Research details
The program was launched in 2020 and involved 3.5-year-old children and their parents.
The surveys were conducted twice, 12 months apart.
In studying the impact of tablets on children, scientists asked parents to answer questions about how often their children use the gadget, how often they experience fits of anger or frustration.
Conclusions of scientists
It has been established that the more children use tablets, the worse their condition becomes.
Children who spent 75 minutes or more a day with such a toy at age 3.5 had 22% more anger attacks a year later. The increase was also noted at age 5.5.
Children thought less before making decisions, became more impulsive, irritable, and had to learn to control negative emotions.
Problems in childhood will certainly make themselves felt in adulthood, experts warn.
Therefore, fighting tantrums and whims at an early age with the help of electronic devices is a mistake and parents should limit children’s access to gadgets.
