Just an hour of extra screen time per day is linked to ‘anger and frustration’ in toddlers, study reveals

TODDLERS have more tantrums if they spend more time on tablets and iPads, a study found.

The quick fix parenting hack can backfire years later.

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Research by the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada, showed gadgets were linked to an increase of more than a fifth in outbursts of rage if used for more than an hour above average each day.

Study author Professor Caroline Fitzpatrick said: “Child tablet use at age 3.5 years was significantly associated with proneness to anger and frustration one year later.”

Mums and dads increasingly use distracting screens to keep kids under control on the train or at dinner.

Prof Fitzpatrick found that even if it calms them down in the moment it can damage their long-term emotional control.

Parents should avoid using screens to calm children down and focus on discussion

Pedro Mario Pan University of Sherbrooke

The study involved 315 parents in Nova Scotia, Canada, between 2020 and 2022.

On average their children spent six-and-a-half hours per week using iPads or digital tablets .

It found three-year-olds who spent one hour and 15 minutes more than average on them each day scored 22 per cent higher on a scale of anger and frustration a year later.

The angriest children at age four were then also the heaviest tablet users at age five.

Researchers said the habit could form a vicious cycle.

Writing in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, they said: “These findings indicate that tablet use can undermine a child’s ability to effectively manage emotions during daily routines.

“Furthermore, children who express more anger may use more digital strategies to temper their outbursts.”

Three quarters of UK toddlers use tablets

UK figures from Ofcom show that 75 per cent of three- to four-year-olds used tablets to go online last year.

Nine out of 10 use the internet to watch videos, while half use it for messages and calls.

The Canadian researchers said although tablet use is common, children need human interaction to develop emotional and social skills.

They said: “There is evidence that children learn emotional regulation through two mechanisms – the observation of parents and emotion-focused parenting.

“More frequent child use of tablets could reduce learning opportunities .

“Children who fail to develop the ability to effectively manage outbursts of anger and frustration are then likely to face poor health, academic and social outcomes.”

Study co-author, Pedro Mario Pan, added: “For parents whose children express more outbursts of anger and frustration, it is recommended to avoid using screens to calm them down and to focus on discussion.”

HEALTH RISKS OF SCREEN TIME

THE screens of our phones, TVs and computers improve our lives in many ways, but there can be too much of a good thing. Science now shows Britain's technology obsession is damaging our health.

Most of the harm is because screen time is sedentary, meaning we barely move our bodies when we are watching or scrolling.

Spending too long sat still eventually leads to weight gain and obesity, which are the driving millions of Brits into health problems including type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, cancer and dementia.

Here are half a dozen studies that show screen time can damage our health at any age:

• Children who spend too much time watching iPads and TVs at higher risk of mental health problems
• Tots learn fewer words if they are glued to a screen
• Kids at risk of type 2 diabetes if they watch too much TV
• Couch potatoes double their risk of dying young
• Five hours per day on social media trebles adults’ depression risk
• Smartphone addiction keeps a third of us awake at night