Recent research suggests that parents using smartphones or tablets to calm their young children may unknowingly contribute to poor anger management and emotional issues. While these devices can provide short-term relief, the long-term effects could be detrimental.

A study published in the journal Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry involved over 300 parents of children aged two to five in Nova Scotia. The researchers found that frequent use of digital devices for emotional regulation hinders a child’s ability to learn proper emotional control.

Lead author Veronika Konok from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest emphasized that offering a digital device to calm a child may prevent them from developing essential emotional regulation skills. This reliance on screens could lead to long-term difficulties in managing emotions effectively.

One parent, Chriselle Vaz from Toronto, shared her experience of using screens to manage her nearly four-year-old son while caring for a newborn. With limited support, Vaz turned to digital devices for moments of peace. However, pediatrician Michelle Ponti from London, Ontario stressed the importance of face-to-face interactions for young children.

Ponti highlighted the cycle of using screens as a calming strategy, noting that while it may work well temporarily, it can create challenges in the long run by hindering a child’s ability to learn new skills without screen dependency. Vaz also noted that how she approaches limiting her son’s device use impacts his reaction, with alternative activities like story time yielding more positive results.

Researchers are further exploring whether children with self-regulation issues are more likely to become reliant on digital devices, coining the term “digital pacifiers” for this phenomenon. It is crucial for parents to balance screen time with other activities that promote healthy emotional development and social interaction for their children.