Why should you limit your child’s screen time before the age of two?

A recent scientific study conducted in Singapore warned that excessive exposure of children to screens before the age of two may lead to changes in brain development, which are later linked to slower decision-making and higher levels of anxiety during adolescence.

The study, led by Assistant Professor Tan Ai Ping and her team from the A*STAR Institute in cooperation with the National University of Singapore, and whose results were published in the journal eBioMedicine, showed that children who spent a long time in front of screens during infancy showed accelerated growth in some areas of the brain, especially those associated with visual processing and self-control, as a result of the intense sensory stimulation caused by digital screens.

The study included 168 children who were followed for more than ten years and underwent brain scans at the ages of 4.5, 6 and 7.5 years to monitor the development of neural networks. The results confirmed that the greatest effect is concentrated in the first two years of a child’s life, while screen time at the age of three and four did not show the same effect.

Lead author Dr Huang Pei said: “What we call ‘accelerated maturation’ occurs when some brain networks develop abnormally quickly as a result of strong stimuli such as screens. This may reduce psychological flexibility and adaptability later on.”

The researchers emphasized that the results provide important evidence for mothers and fathers on the importance of regulating screen time for children in infancy, and supporting their healthy development from the early years, especially with the widespread proliferation of digital devices in our daily lives.