Kids and Smartphones: More Warnings about Impact on Sleep Quality, Social, Emotional, and Cognitive Development

Tech insiders (aka “Silicon Valley Parents”) have gone to great lengths to limit their own kids’ use and exposure to screens. This includes making their nannies sign “no screens” contracts and sending their kids to private low tech or no tech schools. This has been going on FOR MANY YEARS so they must have at least suspected that screen use could harm kids.

Of course health experts including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have been warning FOR MANY YEARS about kids’ use and exposure to screens, smartphones and other sources of wireless technology. Activist Post has highlighted some of their warnings though it’s difficult to keep up with all of them

Kids and smartphones: a warning for parents about harmful impacts

PhD researcher Sumudu Mallawaarachchi and Dr Sharon Horwood from Deakin University’s School of Psychology found that the more time toddlers and pre-schoolers spend on smartphones and iPads, the greater risk of negative impacts on their social, emotional, and cognitive development and sleep quality and quantity.

Young children who spend large amounts of time on mobile screens are more likely to have problems sleeping and managing their emotions and behaviour, a new study has confirmed.

Ms Mallawaarachchi said the results of their recent study reveal the harms caused by prolonged use of mobile screens is likely to outweigh any perceived benefits for toddlers and pre-schoolers.

“Our research reviewed all the relevant national and international studies looking at developmental factors and mobile screen use in early childhood,” Ms Mallawaarachchi said. “The findings so far indicate that toddlers and pre-schoolers who use mobile screens more often and for longer periods of time are more likely to have problems managing their emotions and behaviour and getting poorer quality sleep.