I have witnessed the negative effects of screens on toddlers during my time as a preschool teacher and I wanted to find the science that could explain my observations and could help every parent make an informed decision. I am confident that I can provide you with the right resources and practical steps to help you raise a ‘screen-free’ child.
Here are five compelling reasons to avoid screen time for toddlers under 5
- Exposure to screens detrimentally affects sleep quality and quantity
- Extended use of screens lead to shortened attention spans
- Screen time for young children lead to poor language development
- The amount of screen time during childhood can predict obesity in adulthood
- Screen time is associated with poor psychological health outcomes for young people
If you have ever wondered how you should approach the topic of screen time in your Montessori home, especially with a toddler – then this article is for you. Let’s first look at what the science says.
Why Is Screen Time Bad For Toddlers?
To be blunt and to save you a lot of time I want to let you know that there is no upside to screen use for your toddler under 5 years old. There is a multitude of negatives that I could fill a book with but once again, for the sake of time,we are only going to discuss the major areas of a child’s development that are negatively affected.
Exposure to screens lead to poor sleep
Not enough hours
When you watch television you inevitably end up going to bed later than you should. You will get a less than adequate amount of sleep which means you will most likely not feel your best the next day.
This is no different for children but the difference is that they can’t compensate for the tiredness in the ways you and I can.
When we feel a bit tired we can have some coffee or even take a little nap on the train on our way to work. A child will struggle with the backlog of sleep the entire day without any healthy ways to compensate.
It is also far more crucial for children to feel their best since they have so much to learn every day. They need enough energy to play and socialize – all of which is incredibly tiring for a young child.
What adds insult to injury is the fact that the short wave blue light emitted from our screens causes a decrease in our melatonin production. Melatonin is the ‘sleep-promoting’ hormone. So even if your child goes to bed at a reasonable hour after watching television, they might find it hard to fall asleep. The blue light also contributes to hyperarousal. Not helpful when you want to fall asleep, right?
Not enough quality sleep
After your child has finally managed to fall asleep (way too late) after struggling with the hyperarousal and the lack of Melatonin, you would ideally want them to at least get some deep restorative sleep. Here’s the next problem. The short wave light that they have been exposed to also reduces the amount of REM sleep that they get. Rapid Eye Movement cycles are our deepest sleep cycles when the body goes into repair and restore mode. This is why getting enough sleep is so important when healing from an illness.
The light emitted also delays the phase of the circadian rhythms and could be the cause of frequent night wakings.
If you are wondering why this does not affect you in the same way (it probably does to a lesser degree) it is because children have a much larger pupil size and an increased rate of transmission of the crystal lens. This means they are much more sensitive to all the negative effects of the blue light since their eyes are allowing more of the light in.
You can read more about these findings from the Official Journal Of The American Academy Of Pediatrics
Toddlers who watch TV have shorter attention spans
It’s so ironic that the thing we use (screens) to keep our children occupied for a couple of minutes so we can get a few things done, is the very thing that hinders our children’s ability to keep themselves occupied in the first place.
Concentration is a skill that needs to be built over time. Children can easily concentrate for long periods of time when they are engaged with something that appeals to them. They are capable but we have to make sure that we are not constantly interrupting them so they can work on this skill. We have to also make sure that their environment is set up appropriately to foster engaged activity.
What chance do they have to learn this important skill if we give them constant access to screens? Toddlers do not yet possess great willpower, so given the choice T.V. and mobile screens will always win.
It is no wonder that preschool teachers are reporting a shocking number of children who are struggling to play and focus for the shortest periods. They seem to require constant entertainment from teachers who, let’s face it, cannot compete with television for attention.
The CHILD study’s findings seem to explain scientifically what these teachers are experiencing in class.
Children with more than 2-hours of screen-time/day had a 7·7-fold increased risk of meeting criteria for ADHD.
Children who watched more than 2 hours of screen time/day had increased externalizing [e.g., attention and behavior], internalizing [e.g., anxiety and depression], and total behavior problems scores compared to children who watched less than 20 minutes. Attention problems in particular were apparent in children who had over two hours of screen time each day.
Canadian CHILD study
Read more here from the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) study.
Screen time for young children lead to poor language development
Children learn to speak from interaction with their parents and caregivers. But they learn more than just physically speaking words. They learn how to communicate effectively. This includes every tool we have for communicating – verbal and non-verbal.
They learn how to read and use gestures including body language. They learn how to make eye contact and how to respond to someone during communication. The important factor here is the interaction with another person.
The time a child is spending with an electronic device is time he/she is not spending interacting with another human being. This is why the studies have found a delay across the board in expressive communication in 18-month-olds. This includes gestures and eye-contact.
To be more precise, for every 30 minutes spent using a mobile device the increased risk factor was 2.3 times more.
Read the entire study here on Pubmed
Screen time during childhood leads to obesity in adulthood
Over the last 30 years, the number of obese children in the US has doubled. This could be caused by several poor lifestyle choices including the increase of unhealthy fast food that children are consuming.
What is interesting about this specific study is that it predicts how obese your child will be as an adult based purely on how many hours of television they are currently watching. This would suggest that the amount of time a child watches television is an incredibly strong deciding factor concerning obesity.
You can read more on this study at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
Screen time is associated with behavioral problems
When children start behaving in less than desirable ways it is an SOS call to their caregivers. Their actions are clues to their current emotional and mental states and we need to find out how to help them regain balance. Balanced children whose needs are being met are very rarely accused of being out of control…
There are obviously countless reasons why children might misbehave but these are specific examples of how screen time could impact their behavior according to The National Journal Of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.
- Less sleep leads to more problem behavior
- More aggressive behavior
- More rule-breaking behavior
- Increase in social problems
- Cognitive problems
- Lower self-esteem
Read more about these findings on the National Journal Of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity website.
If you are looking for a non-scientific article about screen-free parenting please read Screen-Time Studies Parents Should Know About. It is very informative and easily digested.
What are the official screen-time guidelines for children?
The WHO advises that for young children to be healthy and develop optimally they need to enjoy enough physical activity, restful sleep, and very limited screen time. They need to be able to move freely and not be restrained for longer than an hour at a time in devices like prams and car seats.
See the table below for the World Organizations’ most recent guidelines with regards to children’s exposure to screens.
| Activity | 0 – 1 year | 1 – 2 years | 2 – 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Time per day* | 180 minutes + | 180 minutes + | 180 minutes + |
| Sedentary/Restrained time per day** | 1 hour max | 1 hour max | 1 hour max |
| Screen Time per day | no screen time | 0 – 1 hours max | 0 – 1 hours max |
| Sleep Time per day | 14 – 17 hours (0-3 months) 12 – 16 hours | 11 – 14 hours | 10 – 13 hours |
*Active time is described as time spent doing a variety of activities that range from moderate to intense physical activity. The 180 minutes minimum can be spread throughout the day.
**Sedentary time is described as being restrained in a stroller, high chair, rocker or even strapped to a caregiver’s back.
The Australian government seconds these guidelines and focus on pushing for more playtime for young children. This is their guide for healthy activity for children under 5.
What is the Montessori Approach to Screen time for toddlers?
Maria Montessori did not have televisions in her day and so there is no official comment on screen time but I think we can make logical assumptions based on her guidelines for what children need to develop and learn optimally.
Children learn through movement
Movement is a crucial component of learning and especially in retaining new information. When children are allowed and encouraged to move they learn more and they learn easier. The information becomes more ingrained when movement is involved.
Watching screens is sedentary and the more time a child spends sitting in front of a screen – the less time they spend moving and learning.
If you are interested in reading more about the importance of movement in cognitive development, I urge you to read this article I wrote – Montessori & Movement
Children learn through exploring
The love of learning is derived from being curious and being allowed to explore this curiosity freely. Everything is interesting to children and they learn from every interaction with every little object they come into contact with.
When children are entranced in front of a screen they are not likely to be exploring the world around them and they will likely lose their sense of curiosity along with their love of learning.
Children need an environment that supports learning
Concentration is a skill. It’s like a muscle that needs to be strengthened and we need to help our children build the skill by providing them with a calm environment and appropriate play and learning materials.
We help them by not interrupting them while they use these play objects and learning materials as well as by limiting the sensory input to protect them from becoming overstimulated.
Televisions and computer screens do the very opposite. They bombard a small child’s brain with information that they can’t filter and because the amount of stimulation a young child can tolerate is quite small – the screen will overwhelm them very quickly.
Children need to be prepared for real life
Children want to learn about real life and this is why Montessorians focus on providing realistic stories and books that show children accurate images of the world.
They are new to this planet and they need to first experience what is real before we can show them all the things we can imagine. Young children especially need to know about all the things we take for granted. Everyday type of things and experiences. Going to the grocery shop. Washing dishes and getting dressed. This is what children want and need to occupy themselves with. Instead of pretending or watching other people do things they would benefit much more from actually doing it themselves.
Once they have the foundation of reality under their belts (and they are at an age where they can distinguish between what is real is what is not), they will be much better at creating their own imaginary worlds.
Children need rich sensory input
Watching television is a sedentary affair that only involves two senses. No screen can provide you with a three-dimensional experience where you can smell and touch an object or experience an event with all of your senses like feeling and hearing the wind and watching it blow through the trees.
How can I wean my toddler off screen-time?
It is never too late to turn a new page and go screen-free and these 10 steps will help you do it. Your child will thank you one day.
- You will have to approach this situation in the same way that you would approach setting other limits. You will talk with your child and let them know that you know that watching television has been part of their daily lives but that you feel it is not the best thing for them and that it is going to stop.
- It is not advisable to wean a child off. It’s Better to go cold turkey since it’s hard for toddlers to be allowed to experience something only some of the time.
- Be confident about your decision – knowing that you are doing the best thing for your child will help you hold the limit firmly and not second guess yourself every time you have to hold firm.
- Have conviction in your actions. This will help you have the right mindset and it will help communicate to your child that you are being a strong leader who can be trusted.
- Expect and allow disagreement from your child. Television and screens, in general, are highly addictive and so removing them will not go down well with anyone. You don’t have to convince them that it is for their good – you just need to let them know that things are going to be different and that you sympathize.
- Allow time for the transition. New habits take time to form and bad habits take even longer to break.
- No rewards or punishments. You should stay away from punishment and rewards in general but even more so when it comes to screens. Be careful not to use screens as a reward for good behavior.
- Keep the bigger picture in mind. It might be very unpleasant to go through and there might be weeks of tough days but keep in mind what you are doing it for and know that this too shall pass. There will be a rainbow after this storm.
- Have a consistent routine with plenty of physical activity and outdoor play. The fresh air and exercise will serve as a welcome distraction to their feelings of loss. Spending time outdoors and being exposed to vitamin D will also aid in better sleep for everyone.
- Keep yourself in check. You are the role model so the buck stops with you. Welcome to parenthood. Set some limits for yourself as well with regards to mobile and computer use. You might consider having screen-free zones in your house as well as certain times where all the adults leave their phones in the drawer.
What are the benefits of going screen-free?
There is a multitude of benefits of foregoing the screens and you will experience them in all of their glory, but here are the long term benefits that you can look forward to.
Increased physical activity
Children need to move to learn and develop physically and cognitively. The science regarding the connection between movement and learning is ever-growing and is showing that children need to move even more than what we originally thought.
Movement promotes better memory, decision making, language development, perception, and even increased emotional intelligence.
Increase in self-directed or free play
Free play in and of itself is a very important topic and the benefits are endless (read more here) but for this article, I will give you the highlights.
If you are interested in the importance of play on early childhood development you should read about Lev Vygotsky and Jean Piaget’s work and findings.
Note: The definition of play is that it is directed by the child and not influenced by an adult.
- Playing reduces stress
- Free play assists in developing problem-solving skills
- Self-directed play boosts independence and self-esteem
- Increased physical development
- Playing leads to better social and emotional development
Better emotional regulation
When children are not distracted from their emotions by being constantly entertained by television and mobile screens, they have the opportunity to recognize the emotions and respond to them appropriately. This usually means releasing them in some way that is healthy and necessary.
The more children go through this process of becoming aware of what they are feeling and choosing a way to deal with the emotions, the better equipped they become. This is how they learn to self-regulate.
Increased Creativity and problem-solving skills
When children play with others they learn how to be creative and how to solve problems. They have to invent their own games and convince others to play with them. They have to communicate the rules of their game and solve disputes between friends. This is how children learn the finer dynamics of social interaction.
Playing offers countless opportunities to build these important skills that they will need later in life. Problem-solving in particular (which is part of being creative) is so vital for success in adulthood. Success in relationships, work, and personal development.
Deep thinking
The realizations you can have when your mind is given the space and time to just wander is astounding. We all need to have these experiences often in our lives. I personally find it is incredibly relaxing and necessary to truly decompress.
Children (and even babies) need to be afforded the same. In order for your mind to get to that place, you have to be prompted by a bit of ‘boredom’. Not be occupied by something that steals your attention but rather is drawn in by something that allows your thoughts to take center stage.
Think about daydreaming while on a long car journey or laying under a tree just staring up at the branches. This is when deep thinking can take place and our children can do a lot of it if they are not captured by screens.
Better sensory development.
Spending more time outdoors and just basically not stuck in front of a screen automatically guarantees that your child will be using more of their senses. Why is this important? Because we require the use of all five of our senses to learn and retain the information that we have acquired. TV does not offer the same rich sensory experience as real life.
We also need to refine our senses when we are young through first-hand interaction. It doesn’t matter how big my T.V. screen is it cannot give me the experience of the Greek Islands. I wish it could. Spending more time physically touching and feeling our way through the world enables us to refine each sense and enjoy what it has to offer us.
Please do yourself a favor and read this article by Janet Lansbury – The Miracles That Happen When We Turn Off T.V.
What to do instead of screen-time?
Children should enjoy each of the following activities daily to develop optimally and balanced.
- Social – bonding with others
- Play (free-play) – without limits or rules
- Outdoor – any activities that take place outside
- Independent – activities that children can complete on their own.
- Literacy – activities that require reading or writing
I will urge anyone to visit the screen-free parenting website for interesting articles and ideas. I found their 1 MILLION SCREEN FREE ACTIVITIES very interesting and would challenge anyone to see if they could work their way through that list!
If you are looking for more ideas screen-free activities, I suggest reading some of my posts below:
The 10 Best Montessori Language Activities for Toddlers (that anyone can do)
Montessori Art Activities for Toddlers – How to get started
Happy playing!