Nowadays, it has become very common to see children in front of a mobile device, even the youngest ones. But do all parents know that prolonged exposure of children to mobile phones can have significant effects on their physical and psychological development? Dr. Jessica Alvarez, a pediatrician of our clinic, gives us more details on this topic of great relevance for the welfare of the little ones at home.

What is the impact of mobile phone use on children?

The consequences of mobile phone abuse in young children are diverse and manifest themselves in many aspects of their physical, mental, and emotional development.

• Alteration of brain development. Mostly in children under two years of age, whose neuronal connections are still in formation.
• Sleep disturbances. The use of screens two or three hours before bedtime can cause a lack of sleep and consequently generate headaches, concentration problems in studies, and irritability.
• Social isolation. Children become isolated from their social environment. Uncontrolled mobile phone use can generate difficulty relating to other peers or adapting to different environments.
• Childhood obesity. Since the use of screens promotes sedentary lifestyles.
• Visual deficits. Continuous exposure to mobile phone screens at an early age can cause problems such as myopia or astigmatism.

What is the most appropriate exposure time to mobile devices?

Our specialist explains that the World Health Organization recommends that children under 2 years of age should stay away from any type of screen (cell phone, tablet, or laptop).  Older children, between 2 and 5 years old, can spend a maximum of 30 minutes a day in front of the computer always in the company of an adult, and those between 6 and 12 years old can spend between 1 and 2 hours in front of the tablet or smartphone, as a maximum.

Recommendations to prevent your children from spending too much time in front of the mobile phone:

• Manage and regulate the use of electronic devices according to their age.
• Control the content that children consume.
• Encourage the use of the screen with profit.
• Encourage outdoor and family play.
• Follow a routine of sports or any other extracurricular activity.
• Use the phone in common areas of the house to better monitor what children can see.
• Do not use the cell phone as a babysitter.

Dr. Jessica Alvarez
Pediatrician at Clínica Ricardo Palma