Effect of Screen Time on the Development of Fine Motor, Language, and Social Skills in Children Aged 1 to 6 Years

TL;DR

This study finds that excessive screen time in young children is linked to delays in social skills development.

Contribution

The study establishes a significant association between high screen exposure and social developmental delays in children aged 1-6.

Findings

72% of children had screen time exceeding two hours per day.

High screen time was associated with twice the likelihood of developmental delays.

Delays were most common in the social domain (31.3%).

Abstract

Introduction

With the rapid rise in digital media use, young children are being exposed to screens at increasingly early ages. Excessive screen time has raised concerns regarding its potential impact on neurodevelopment, particularly on fine motor, language, and social skills that rely on direct human interaction and play. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between daily screen exposure and developmental outcomes among children aged 1 to 6 years using the Trivandrum Developmental Screening Chart (TDSC).

Methodology

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 106 children attending the outpatient and inpatient departments of Dr. BC Roy Post Graduate Institute of Paediatric Sciences, Kolkata. Data on sociodemographic variables and screen use patterns were collected through a structured parental questionnaire. Developmental assessment was performed using the TDSC. Screen time greater than two hours per day was considered high exposure based on WHO and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests for association, and multivariate logistic regression to adjust for confounding factors such as age, sex, and maternal education.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 27.6 months, with a slight male predominance (57 (53.8%)). The average daily screen exposure was 3.2 hours, and 72 (67.9%) children had high screen time. The median age of first screen exposure was eight months. Developmental delays were observed in 15 (18.7%) children in the fine motor domain, 20 (25.0%) in the language domain, and 25 (31.3%) in the social domain. A significant association was found between high screen time and social developmental delay (χ² = 4.12, p = 0.042). Logistic regression revealed that children with screen exposure above two hours per day were twice as likely to have developmental delay (adjusted OR = 2.14, p = 0.036).

Conclusions

Excessive screen exposure in early childhood is significantly associated with developmental delays, particularly in the social domain. Parental awareness, guided screen use, and promotion of interactive play are essential to safeguard early childhood development.