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Screen Time and Young Children
- Aug 5
- 2 min read
In today's digital world, screens have become part of everyday life. Whether it's a television, tablet or phone, many parents use screens to keep young children entertained while they juggle the demands of family life.
While screens can provide a welcome break for busy parents, research shows that too much screen time during the early years may impact a child's development. The good news is that balancing screen use with plenty of real-world experiences can help children learn, grow and thrive.
Babies Learn Best from People
The first few years of life are a time of incredible brain development. During this period, babies learn best through face-to-face interactions with parents, carers and other trusted adults.
Research has shown that babies under one year of age learn very little from screens alone. Instead, they develop language, communication and social skills through talking, singing, reading, playing and responding to the people around them.
The World Health Organization recommends:
Children under 2 years: No screen time.
Children aged 2–4 years: No more than one hour of screen time each day, with less being even better.
Screens Can Affect Attention
Learning to concentrate and focus begins in early childhood.
Activities such as listening to stories, building with blocks, drawing or exploring outdoors encourage children to think, observe and process information at their own pace. In contrast, the fast-moving images and constant stimulation of many digital devices can make it more difficult for young children to develop attention and concentration skills.
Boredom Builds Creativity
It may sound surprising, but boredom can actually be good for children.
When children aren't constantly entertained, they begin to create their own games, solve problems, imagine new ideas and explore their environment. These experiences help develop resilience, creativity and independence.
If children rely heavily on screens for entertainment, they may miss valuable opportunities to develop these important life skills.
Social Skills Grow Through Real Connections
Young children learn to understand emotions by watching faces, listening to voices and interacting with the people around them.
Smiles, eye contact, facial expressions and conversation all help children learn empathy and understand how others feel. These important social skills cannot be developed in the same way through a screen.
Time spent playing with family members, friends and other children helps build communication, confidence and emotional understanding.
Making Screen Time More Meaningful
Sometimes screens are unavoidable—and that's okay. The key is to make screen time purposeful rather than passive.
When using screens:
Choose high-quality, age-appropriate content.
Watch together whenever possible.
Talk about what you're watching.
Balance screen time with plenty of active play, reading, outdoor adventures and family interaction.
Finding the Right Balance
Screens are part of modern life, but they shouldn't replace the experiences that young children need most—talking, playing, exploring and connecting with others.
At Gubi Gabun, we believe children learn best through hands-on play, meaningful relationships and real-world experiences. By encouraging a healthy balance between technology and active play, we can support children to develop the confidence, creativity and social skills they need for a happy and healthy future.
Source: Adapted from UNICEF Parenting – "Babies, Toddlers and Screen Time." Article on Screen time from Unicef.
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