SEED Early Childhood Educational Blog

DISCLAIMER

With the rise of technology, many children engage in extended amounts of screen time. This post explores the risks to development, the learning possibilities and how personality and age can impact the effects of screen time on children.

Keywords: Excessive Screen Time Screen Time Impact on Development Tablets Children and Phones Too much screen Time?

Author Samantha Donnelly

Reviewed by

25 February 2026

We are in the Information Age, also known as the Digital Age. With the rise of technology, many children engage in extended amounts of screen time. This post explores the risks to development, the learning possibilities and how personality and age can impact the effects of screen time on children.

What is screen time?

Screen time is the time spent with any screen, including computers, tablets, televisions, gaming consoles and mobile phones. Screen-based devices have become a normal part of family life, and this has resulted in children being exposed to screens very early on. [2][3][4]

Recommendations

Excessive screen time and its effects on children’s development are a major concern. Many countries have recommendations. According to the recommendations by the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding sedentary time, the guidance is as follows:

• 0-2years old - No screen time at all

• 2-4 years olds - No more than an hour, but less is better.

However, despite this recommendation, many children over the age of 2 years old have extended time on screens. [1][3][4][5][2][6]

Screen Time by Age

0-2years old = 0hrs

2-4 years olds =1hr

Positives of Screen Learning

While screen time can offer a child many learning benefits, such as educational and social opportunities, excessive screen time has been linked to negative outcomes. In their early years, children need to be active and have quality social-emotional interactions in their families. One [8] study found no clear benefits for development, health or well-being how ever the acknowledge the possibility of screen time benefits in other areas. [9][4][8]

Risks for Development

There have been rising concerns about children’s health and excessive screen time. One of the main concerns about screen time is the effect on a child’s cognitive development. Research suggests that excessive screen time can lead to cognitive delay, language delay and social-emotional difficulties. [9][8]

In the UK, each group-based Early Childhood Education and Care setting (including child minders) must follow the statutory Early Years Framework called the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for 0-5 year olds. This framework highlights seven areas of development, divided into Prime and Specific Areas. The Prime Areas are Physical development, Language and Communication and Social-Emotional Development [13][12]. The outline below is the impacts and effects excessive screen time can have on the Prime areas of a child’s development.

• Physical Development

Excessive screen time has links to lower levels of motor skill and dexterity. Some research suggests excessive screen time contributes to obesity. [4][7]

• Communication and Language

In babies, research suggests excessive exposure to background television (others also extend this to music from devices) can have negative effects on the child’s ability to grasp language, cognitive development, and executive function skills. Excessive screen time is also believed to reduce the quality and quantity of social interactions between parents and peers, affecting the child’s development of language. [4][10]

• Social-Emotional Development

There is a good amount of research about the effects of excessive screen time on mental health and well-being. Research findings can vary. Research found that excessive screen time increases psycho-social difficulty and externalised behaviours. Mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Sleep problems, hindrances to social-emotional learning and links to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). [10][11][9]

executive function skills

• Attention

• Working memory

• Impulse-control

Parents Influence

Parents play a central role in their child’s introduction to technology. Some researchers have found that elements of the family environment can have effects on how the child will engage with screens and the impact it will have on the child’s development, behaviour and psycho-social well-being. The parent is responsible for ensuring the child engages with screens in a healthy way. Young children need support to regulate themselves and are unable to regulate their own screen use alone. [1][4]

The early years are such a delicate time in a child’s development. The use of screens can be both positive and negative, and excessive use has serious effects on a child’s development.[9]

References

1 Morawska, A., Mitchell, A. E., & Tooth, L. R. (2023). Managing Screen Use in the Under-Fives: Recommendations for Parenting Intervention Development. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-023-00435-6

2 Byrne, R., Terranova, C. O., & Trost, S. G. (2021). Measurement of screen time among young children aged 0-6 years: A systematic review. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13260

3 Zhu, J., McVarnock, A., Polakova, L., Xiang, S., Li, Y., & Coplan, R. J. (2023). Shyness and Socio-Emotional Adjustment among Young Chinese Children: The Moderating Role of Screen Time. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13090763

4 Ponti, M. (2023). Screen time and preschool children: Promoting health and development in a digital world. Paediatrics & Child Health, 28(3), 184. https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/pxac125

5 Mekhail, K. T., Blom, L., & Rydström, L. L. (2024). Young children's screen habits and first-time parents' reflections on screen use in socioeconomically disadvantaged Swedish settings: a mixed methods study. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19557-9

6 WHO Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO

7 Tang, L., Darlington, G., L Ma, D. W., Haines, J., & Health Study, G. F. (2018). Mothers’ and fathers’ media parenting practices associated with young children’s screen-time: A cross-sectional study. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40608-018-0214-4

8 Stiglic, N. & Viner, R. (2018) Effects of screentime on the health and well-being of children and adolescents: a systematic review of reviews. 10.1136/ bmjopen-2018-023191

9 Kumari, P. & Pathak, P. (2025) Balancing Screen Time and Child Development: A Review of the Evidence https://doi.org/10.25215/1303.193

10 Muppalla, S. K., Vuppalapati, S., Pulliahgaru, A. R., & Sreenivasulu, H. (2023). Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Child Development: An Updated Review and Strategies for Management.://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.40608

11 House of Commons Education Committee (2024) Screen time: Impacts on Education and Wellbeing https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/45128/documents/223543/default/

12 Department for Education Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework (2025) For group and school-based providers EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers

13 Donnelly, S. (2026) Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) https://seedearlychildhood.com/social-emotional-learning-sel

Author: Samantha Donnelly BA(Hons)MA

Samantha Donnelly is an Early Childhood Practitioner with more than 15 years of experience working with children, specialising in Early Childhood Education. Samantha is the founder of SEED Early Childhood Educational Blog.

Reviewed by:

SEED Early Childhood is the Educational blog founded by Samantha Donnelly to bring professionals to you.

Share this post