Distracting a crying toddler with an electronic device may be the easiest way to make them stop crying, but it is not the healthiest.
422 parents of young children took part in a study that was recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The findings showed that using screen time to stop a tantrum was associated with more emotional dysregulation in children, especially boys. Not only does the practice prevent parents from teaching kids how to handle challenging emotions, but it can also send a message to children that behaving like that is a way to get what they want.
“When you see your 3-to 5-year-old having a tough emotional moment, meaning they are screaming and crying about something, they’re getting frustrated, they might be hitting or kicking or lying on the floor. If your go-to strategy is to distract them or get them to be quiet by using media, then this study suggests that is not helping them in the long term,” noted Dr. Jenny Radesky, a developmental behavioral pediatrician and lead author of the study.
The World Health Organisation has previously said that sedentary screen time is not recommended for children under the age of two, while those between two and four should get an hour max.
If your toddler is going hysterical, Radesky suggests giving them a relaxing and comfortable place to collect their thoughts and feelings.
