The increasing use of tablets by young children is linked to an increase in episodes of anger and frustration, according to a study that highlights the importance of parental control in the use of digital devices to prevent emotional problems.
Tablets are increasingly being used as virtual babysitters to keep young children entertained, but this can lead to more tantrums, which can in turn overwhelm parents trying to calm their child by giving them a tablet, according to new research showing this type of “vicious cycle” developed during the early years of many of the Canadian youth included in the study.
The research was led by Caroline Fitzpatrick, a professor of education at the University of Sherbrooke (Quebec, Canada) and holder of the Canada Research Chair in Digital Media Use by Children. According to the researchers: “Tablet use in early childhood may disrupt the ability to control anger and frustration and lead to increased outbursts in young children.”
With a team of colleagues from the University of Sherbrooke, Sainte-Anne University and the Federal University of São Paulo, the lead researcher analyzed the number of minutes of tablet use per day and the frequency with which children displayed anger and frustration.
More screen time, more anger, and so on.
The results have been published in JAMA Pediatrics and show that as children’s screen time increases, so do episodes of anger and frustration. In turn, these intense emotions contribute to increased use of electronic devices.
Tablet use at 3.5 years of age could lead to increased expression of anger and frustration at 4.5 years of age. These levels of anger and frustration at 4.5 years of age then contribute to increased tablet use at 5.5 years of age. “We hypothesized that increased tablet use would be associated with more frequent displays of anger, and that children who were more prone to anger would increase their tablet use as a result,” explains Professor Fitzpatrick.
The use of digital media by children could reduce the time spent in conversations between parents and children, which are necessary for children to learn to manage their emotions.
A previous study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, between 2020 and 2022, had already shown that each hour of screen time at age 3.5 was associated with an increase in episodes of anger and frustration at age 4.5. The analysis of tablet use and episodes of frustration and anger, conducted over three consecutive years, from 2020 to 2023, allowed the team to confirm the reciprocal relationship between tablet use and displays of anger. The rigorous design of the study also made it possible to compare each child with themselves, preventing other factors, such as family environment or socioeconomic status, from influencing the results.
The role of parents in managing emotions
According to the results of this research, it is clear that tablet use by young children should be supervised by parents, and even delayed as much as possible. “A good ability to manage intense emotions such as anger and frustration is essential for children to get off to a good start at school,” said Professor Gabrielle Caron-Carrier, Professor in the Department of Psychoeducation at the Faculty of Education and co-investigator of the study.
Digital media use by young children may reduce the time spent in parent-child conversations, interactions that are necessary for children to learn to manage their emotions. In addition, according to the study’s findings, parents, who are role models for their children, should also limit their own screen use in their children’s presence, in order to encourage both the development of healthy digital habits and emotional management. The authors believe that future research should focus more on the context of screen use and the quality of content consumed by children.
