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An Hour of Screen Time Can Lead to Developmental Delays in Toddlers: How Much is Too Much?

M3 Global Newsdesk Jan 04, 2025

Too much screen time can cause developmental delays in toddlers, according to a new study published in Paediatrics this August.


Key takeaways

  1. A new study found that screen time can impair toddlers’ developmental skills, including problem-solving and communication.
  2. More studies are needed to assess how screen time impacts specific benchmarks.
  3. Paediatricians encourage balancing screen time with physical interactions to work “brain muscles” and encourage healthy development.

The study, conducted in Japan, consisted of more than 7,000 mother-child pairs. The children were around one year old at the beginning of the study, at which time they were assessed for screen time exposure and given a ranking based on their exposure. The researchers scored children based on their amount, not quality, of screen time (eg, whether screen time was for educational or recreational purposes), which they noted as a limitation.


The study

When the children were 2 and 4 years old, they were assessed on five developmental skills: communication, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities, and personal and social skills. The researchers found that screen time was associated with developmental delays in several of these categories, including communication, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal and social skills categories for 2-year-olds and communication and problem-solving for 4-year-olds.

Ilan Shapiro, MD, MBA, FAAP, FACHE, a paediatrician and the Chief Health Correspondent and Medical Affairs Officer at AltaMed Health Services, says that this study adds to existing research on screen time.

“We are witnessing the first generation learning how to use screens appropriately, and we need to leverage this knowledge to create a healthy development path for children,” Dr. Shapiro explains.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends children ages 2 to 5 spend a maximum of 1 hour on screens per weekday and a maximum of 3 hours on weekend days. For children under the age of 2, the academy recommends that screen time be limited to watching educational programming with a caregiver. Other organisations set similar guidelines. However, analyses have found that most children’s screen time exceeds these guidelines.[2][3]

The study findings may demonstrate the importance of sticking to screen time limits. Researchers say that the findings call for more individualised investigations into how screen time impacts each of the five categories. 

While parents and paediatricians don’t have all the answers yet, Dr. Shapiro says that available information can guide best practices. For starters, he stresses the importance of balancing screen time with face-to-face interactions. He adds that more studies are needed to better understand—and address—how screen time impacts adolescent health.

“We have to recognise that kids live in two worlds: the physical and virtual,” Dr. Shapiro says. “For paediatricians and parents, it's important to avoid substituting physical activity like outdoor activities for screen time. When we use virtual technology, we can't forget physical activities like reading a book and playing with toys.”

Dr. Shapiro adds that reading books, playing with toys, and interacting with other children and adults can help children engage and strengthen their brains, which is essential for healthy development.

“Learning requires active engagement, including discussion and interaction with other individuals,” he explains. “Without these experiences, learning becomes limited. When children isolate themselves, they might not engage in physical movement like stretching, crawling, [and] walking. If kids don't use the muscles or the brain, it can delay learning and development.”

“We have to look at the brain as a muscle,” Dr. Shapiro adds. “If we neglect the brain and fail to engage it, especially during the early years of development, it can risk [delaying] the important development of social skills, communication abilities, and motor skills.”

With older children, meaningful conversations can help encourage physical activity alongside screen time, he says. For younger children, parents and paediatricians can help direct activities, engage with the child, and lead by example.

“We need to focus on how we can use the time to learn, interact, and have fun with technology without losing the human touch,” Dr. Shapiro says. “When we lose human interaction, it can lead to a decline in meaningful conversation, relationships, and health.”


What this means for you

One-year-olds who spend too much time on screens may experience developmental delays at ages 2 and 4, according to a new study.

 

Disclaimer: This story is contributed by Claire Wolters and is a part of our Global Content Initiative, where we feature selected stories from our Global network which we believe would be most useful and informative to our doctor members.

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