Does your kid cry unnecessarily? A recent study finds why and how to stop it
Study Findings
The study followed a group of 315 children from Nova Scotia, Canada, at ages 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5 years. It found that children who used mobile phones and tablets often at age 3.5 were more prone to anger and frustration by age 4.5. Additionally, those who showed signs of anger at 4.5 years were likely to continue using these devices frequently by age 5.5.
Impact on Emotional Development
Dr. Rahul Rai Kakkar, a consultant in psychiatry and clinical psychology at Narayana Hospital, told TOI about the importance of early childhood for brain development. He noted that excessive screen time can disrupt the natural learning of emotional regulation skills. «Tablets provide instant gratification through rapid content delivery and continuous stimulation, which can negatively impact a child's capacity to postpone gratification and handle frustration,» he said.
Dr. Achal Bhagat, a senior consultant in psychiatry and psychotherapy at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, discussed several reasons why tablet use might lead to increased anger and frustration. He suggested that children might struggle with transitions away from the device, experience withdrawal-like symptoms when tablets are removed, and face overstimulation that disrupts sleep and mood.
Expert Recommendations
Kamna Chhibber, head of mental health and behavioural sciences at Fortis Healthcare, emphasized the importance of unstructured time for children. She advised encouraging activities that do not involve screens and fostering communication through
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