You may recognize yourself: The working day has just ended, dinner is simmering on the stove, blood sugar is on the way down and it is now that the 3-year-old has his little tantrum. What are you doing? A little time in front of the screen used to work. Everyone is happy – at least for a little while. But even if the tablet seems like a good solution, this can make things worse. At least that’s what researchers behind a new study think. They have found that using a screen as a means of calming children down can be linked to behavioral challenges later in life. A smart strategy? The study involved 422 parents and an equal number of children. It was carried out for a period of six months before the pandemic broke out. The researchers have studied how digital devices are used to calm upset children aged 3–5. And the results show that this is a bad strategy if it is often used. – Especially in early childhood, such units can displace opportunities for the development of self-regulation. That’s what researcher and author Jenny Radesky says in a press release. According to the new study, you should avoid giving your child a tablet in situations where they need to calm down. But if, as an adult, you run out of energy, the researchers recommend that you choose content that is suitable. Here, the experts suggest, among other things, the children’s program “Daniel Tiger”, which speaks directly to children. Photo: Kleiven, Paul / NTB scanpix Worst for young boys Signs that children are struggling to regulate their own emotions can appear in the form of rapid mood swings. The child can be sad one second, then be in a form of ecstasy shortly after. Increased impulsivity is another sign, the researchers explain. The consequences were worst for young boys and children with a strong temperament, the study shows. For these children, screen use can lead to a more intense reaction to various emotions. Among other things, anger, frustration and depression. – Our findings indicate that using such devices to calm upset children can be particularly problematic for those who already struggle with emotional coping, says Radesky. – Important to research Ola Andres Erstad is professor of pedagogy at the University of Oslo. He thinks the new study is interesting. But believes that parents must not feel guilty if they resort to the tablet now and then. – I guess the message here is that it must not be used only as a tool to calm the children down. That parents should rather talk to them about feelings. Erstad himself will start his own project within the same theme. Among other things, he will look at the importance of the screen in everyday life, and what it does to families. The purpose is to gain a better understanding of the place of digital media in different families, Erstad explains to news. He believes that research into this is very important. – We know too little about the effects of digital screens on the rising generation. Today, this creates an unnecessary amount of uncertainty among parents and teachers in schools about which guidelines should be adhered to. – We have some research on time spent with screens in families with children, but little research that says anything about how digital screens are used in everyday life and what significance this has, says Professor Ola Andres Erstad. Photo: University of Oslo A vicious circle In May this year, the Directorate of Health made a clear recommendation: Children under the age of two should be kept away from computer screens. And children up to the age of five should have a maximum of one hour of screen time a day. At the time, director of health Bjørn Guldvog stated the following: – An important point for us is that the screen should not be used as a babysitter. Putting children in front of a screen so that they become passive for a long time is not beneficial. A child develops a lot during the time in kindergarten. This can be a period when many struggle with difficult behaviour. Such behavior is often shown in the form of defiance, tantrums and other intense emotions. Which in turn can lead to the temptation to use a screen to calm them down. And if this works, it is likely that one will repeat the “success” time after time. – The more often such aids are used, the less the children – and the parents – have to practice other coping strategies, says the researcher behind the study, Jenny Radesky. – Put emotions into words Dr. Joyce Harrison is professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, USA. She says the results of the new study support existing research. And she believes the screen should not be a substitute for good upbringing. – There is no good substitute for interaction with adults. It is useful for caregivers to help the children put words to such feelings, and offer solutions when they react inappropriately, she tells CNN. Researcher Jenny Radesky also has some tricks and tips that can help in such situations. Small children are often soothed by various sensory impressions. This could be listening to music, looking in a book or jumping on a trampoline. Name the feeling the children feel and explain what they should do with it. It helps to connect language to an emotional state. Then you also show the child that it is understood. Have a time limit on screen use. This is how to prevent rage created by technology. It is also good to teach children emotional coping strategies when they are calm, says Radesky. Here you can use a stuffed animal. Tell a little about what emotions the stuffed animal can have in different situations. – Such solutions help children understand themselves better. And then they feel more competent to handle their own emotions. It requires repetition. And as a carer, it is important to stay calm and not overreact to the children’s emotions, says the researcher. The new study is published in JAMA Pediatrics.
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Do you use a screen to calm the children down? Can have negative consequences over time, say researchers – news Trøndelag
