Warning: How Touch Screen Devices Could Be Destructive To Your Toddler

I believe we are all a little guilty in passing along our much handy, mobile baby sitter to our toddler during those times, which

can be nearly all the time, that they simply refuse to be entertained by their own toys, or sit down in the doctor’s office, or anything simply related to a task that requires cooperation.

While your smartphone may be convenient, is it also dangerous when it comes o your toddler’s development?

Medicalresearch.com conducted an interview with Pediatrician, Dr. Deidre Murray where she reveals some interesting truths in how play for our toddlers are changing.

Read more to discover the effects your smart phone could have on your developing toddler.

Dr. Murray: Everyday in clinic, and in waiting rooms and in restaurants we see parents are handing over their smart phones and iPads to occupy young children. The nature of childhood play is changing rapidly. The exact frequency and the effect of this change in unknown. We wanted to first measure how young children 12-36 months are using touchscreen devices. We asked parents who attended our paediatric unit, both outpatients and short stay inpatients to answer a study specific questionnaire.

We found that of the 82 parents surveyed, 82% of parents owned a touchscreen device, and of these 87% gave their device to their toddler to play with. Thus 71% of toddlers had access to a touchscreen device. This rate was similar across the age range studied (12-36 months). By parental report, 24 months was the median age of ability to swipe (IQR: 19.5–30.5), unlock (IQR: 20.5–31.5) and active looking for touch-screen features (IQR: 22–30.5), while 25 months (IQR: 21–31.25) was the median age of ability to identify and use specific touch-screen features. Overall, 32.8% of toddlers could perform all four skills.

Touchscreen usage was common at a very young age and from 2 years of age toddlers have the ability to interact purposefully with touch-screen technology. 

For the complete article, visit Dr. Murray over at medicalresearch.com (click here)

Image credit: Gordon