EXCESS SCREEN TIME - IMPACT ON CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT: A REVIEW

Abstract

In recent years, children are immersed in both traditional and new forms of digital media around the globe. Screen time is now embedded in the daily lives of young children beginning from infancy. Pre-schoolers exposed to screen and interactive media may benefit in many ways but excessive and inappropriate screen exposure could potentially lead to several health and developmental risks. Excess screen time in early childhood has found to negatively impact cognitive, language, literacy and socio-emotional development. Despite challenges of screen media parenting practices and those posed by lockdown (work from home, online schooling) during COVID-19 pandemic, parents hold the key to navigate these challenges by serving as role models to ensure positive developmental outcomes in their children.