Parents who give a phone to a fussy toddler in a grocery store or waiting room are common. A recent study indicates the effects of using screens to calm young children vary by family.
Screen time and development interact over time
Researchers at The Ohio State University followed children from about 2½ to 7½ years old. They examined how media exposure affects cognitive skills related to emotional regulation. Their work centered on two key abilities: cognitive flexibility, which involves adapting to change and understanding others’ viewpoints, and inhibitory control, which helps children pause before acting.
For most children in the study, about 87%, the relationship was mutual. Kids who were harder to soothe often received a screen, and that screen time influenced how their executive function developed. These changing skills then affected how often parents turned to devices later.
Jane Shawcroft, an assistant professor of communication at Ohio State and the study’s lead researcher, explained the differences. “It’s not just that the effects are larger or smaller for some kids—the basic pattern differs,” she said.
Parent mental health affects screen use
The study found two smaller groups that didn’t follow the main pattern. Around 5% of children showed a more complex relationship that researchers continue to investigate. Another 7% followed a different path: screen use shaped their cognitive development, but their behavior didn’t predict when parents would use screens. Parents in this group more often reported symptoms of depression.
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Shawcroft noted that mental health strongly influences how parents use technology with young children. “Because technology is a lever parents can pull when parents don’t have the resources to cope with their own poor mental health,” she said.
The results suggest that simply telling parents to limit screen time misses part of the picture. Supporting parents’ emotional well-being may also help children develop healthier relationships with technology.
The findings appeared in a news release.
For families dealing with similar challenges, new approaches to common issues may offer additional insights.
