According to new research, giving a tablet to a child to watch videos can result in anger issues later on in his life. This is because mobile and tablets are creating problems in children’s development and are shaping them according to what they watch online. Census Bureau reported that 80% of the children own tablets in US households. The research published in JAMA Pediatrics shows that tablet use at 3.5 years old can turn into anger and frustration after a year.
4.5 years old children using tablets showed signs of outbursts and frustrations when they turned 5.5 years old and this cycle continued to upcoming years. It indicates that usage of tablets can make it harder for children to manage their emotions during their daily lives. The research didn’t mention why use of tablets can make children react that way but there are two ways a child learns emotions when he is little. One is through his parents and the other is through observation.
When there is a tablet in a child’s hand he wouldn’t be able to learn emotions and how to express them, which results in poor development and growth of children. It also depends on how a tablet is being used. If it is being used to read or if it is being used for watching videos, and how much parents interact with their children while they are using tablets.
The researchers also added that tablets can help children respond to emotions and behavioral cues better if a parent is interacting with the child when he’s using the tablet. The research also shed some light on how usage of mobiles and tablets at such early ages can have serious negative effects on children so parents should be extra cautious of their child’s screen time.
Image: DIW-Aigen
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