There is no doubt that many people leave their children for hours in front of screens of devices of all kinds, thinking that in this way they have provided their children with an opportunity to sit and watch entertainment programs and get rid of a little burden of their screaming or excessive movement, but it is certain that they are ignorant of the health consequences for the child, especially in the early stages of his development Accordingly, his nervous system develops and his brain grows properly.
Scientists said children spending too much time in front of screens could cause permanent damage to their brains.
Phones, tablets and television screens lead to changes in brain activity, as well as problems in executive functioning, as children struggle to stay alert, control emotions, impulses and behaviors, follow instructions and stay on task, at school. According to Russia Today.
During the study, scientists asked parents to report how long children, ages 12 to 18 months, spent in front of screens each day.
They were categorized into groups: less than an hour, one to two hours, two to four hours and more than four hours.
The scientists then examined the children’s brain activity at 12 and 18 months of age, including traits such as attention span and impulse control, at the age of nine.
The results showed that children who were exposed to screens for longer had more low-frequency waves, matching their struggle to stay alert.
Brains grow rapidly from birth, but the part behind attention and emotions, the prefrontal cortex, takes longer to form.
This growth is disrupted by the fast scrolling of images and flashing lights from screens. Children’s brains get confused and struggle to develop cognitive skills.
“The results should not be taken lightly as they affect the development of future generations,” said Professor Chung Yap Sing, co-author of the study.