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Children are looking at screens at younger and younger ages and for longer periods of time. In ten years, screen time for children aged 0 to 10 has doubled. Children aged 0 to 6 years spend an average of 99 minutes in front of a screen every day. The Dutch baby brain specialist Marion van den Heuvel and the Belgian child psychiatrist Theo Compernolle are very concerned about this. Especially for Kassa, they meet in the research laboratory of Tilburg University and analyze the impact of the tablet on the behavior of toddlers.
Research toddler behavior
On a drizzly autumn day we invite four parents to our research. They come to the university building in Tilburg with their toddlers. It concerns three mothers and a father. They bring two daughters and two sons between the ages of 2 and 4. First they run in the hallway and play with blocks and train tracks. Then parent and child disappear one by one into the playroom we have set up. In an adjacent room, the experts watch on a screen and comment on what they see happening.
Videos on tablet more interesting than toys
First, the toddler’s favorite toys are allowed on the table. The parents brought cuddly toys, books, cars and puzzles. It looks cozy and there is interaction between parent and child. The parent is then instructed – via an earpiece – to place the tablet on the gaming table. All four children continue to play; until the tablet turns on. Soon the toddlers put the toys aside and only pay attention to Miffy, Tik Tok or the Teletubbies. Marion: “These videos are suitable for young ages. You see that they can still communicate with their parents while watching.” When the videos are over, three out of four children pick up their toys again. A little boy starts crying and begs his mother for more Tik Tok. Compernolle: “You can see the addictive effect here. He reacts more strongly to the tablet than to his regular toys.”
Children turn into zombies
When an episode of Paw Patrol or Cocomelon is then shown to the toddlers, the atmosphere changes. Kijkwijzer has determined that this content is suitable for all ages, including the youngest, but these experts believe that these programs are not age appropriate. Van den Heuvel: “The storyline is too complex, the images change too quickly and the story has no clear ending.” In the playroom, a two-year-old boy’s mouth remains wide open. He no longer responds to his father’s questions. Marion: “If your child does not respond, you know that the content is too heavy. He needs all his brain power to comprehend this.” Compernolle: “These children are now turning into a kind of zombie children.”
The beginning of an addiction
When parents hear through an earpiece that they should put an end to screen time and turn off the tablet, three out of four children react with anger and tears. The little ones grab the tablet and don’t want to let it go. While there was a cheerful wave back at the end of the Teletubbies episode, the children are now upset when they have to say goodbye to Cocomelon. Compernolle: “I see this as the beginning of an addiction. This content is created to keep children glued to the screen.”
Too little parental supervision
Van den Heuvel: “Research shows that children up to the age of three hardly learn anything from a screen. They do become overstimulated, they sleep poorly, and as a parent you are actually preparing them for a life behind the screen. Why would you do that? TV or tablet can only be educational if parents watch together with their children. But research shows that children usually sit behind a TV or tablet without parental supervision because it is often used as a babysitter while cooking or when the parent has to work.”
Unjustified proud parents
The Belgian notices to his horror that there are parents who proudly shout that their baby ‘can already swipe’. According to you, you don’t have to be proud of that. “It is a big misunderstanding to think that the child will learn something from this. Such a baby is involved in a game and is conditioned like an animal.”
Smartphone as comfort
The experts also warn against the smartphone as a means of comfort regulation. Van den Heuvel: “I see many parents give their smartphone to the child when he is upset. The child is then not comforted by father or mother, but by the telephone. When the child becomes an adolescent, he or she will turn to a controller for gaming as a source of comfort. And that also has an addictive effect.”
Find out more about the impact of screen time on young children:
The Perils of Pint-Sized Screenies: Are Toddlers Becoming Tech Zombies?
Well, it appears that our little darlings are being turned into screen-obsessed zombies before they can even pronounce “tablet”! Grab your popcorn, folks, because this research is about to unfold faster than a toddler spotting a shiny new toy. According to a report, toddlers aged 0 to 6 are now spending a staggering average of 99 minutes a day glued to screens. And no, this isn’t a new Olympic sport!
The Research In Action: What Happens in Tilburg?
On a gloomy day in Tilburg (and let’s be honest, when isn’t it gloomy in autumn?), a group of parents traipsed into a university lab with their mini-mes. I half expected them to be filmed for an exclusive reality show titled “Toddlers Gone Wild!” but no, it was all in the name of science. Experts Marion van den Heuvel and Theo Compernolle observed as the kids transitioned from beloved toys to dazzling, colorful screens the moment a tablet was switched on. Cue the monster chorus of “More Paw Patrol!” A child cries, and the experts predict the end of society as we know it.
Toddlers Prefer Tablets Over Toys – Shocking, I Know!
In what can only be described as a devastating blow to the toy industry, toddlers quickly abandoned their favorite toys once the tablet appeared. “Look, Mummy! A new season of Teletubbies!” You can practically hear the marketing executives rubbing their hands in glee as they watch little ones morph into screen-centric zombies. Marion and Theo didn’t hold back, labeling this phenomenon as *addictive*. I mean, who needs toys when you can have the luminous glow of a screen?
Zombies in the Making: What Parents Should Know
When the expert duo introduced more stimulating content like *Paw Patrol* and *Cocomelon*, it became clear our toddlers were entering full zombie mode. One parent’s calls went ignored as their child’s jaws dropped. It sets my heart racing just thinking about it! Marion made a keen observation stating, *“If your child does not respond, you know that the content is too heavy.”* So there you have it, folks. Intensive zombie training starts with screen time!
Parental Intervention: Fails Spectacularly
And how did the session end? When parents were told to shut down these brain-melting devices, the adorable little munchkins erupted into full-blown tantrums. I’ve seen less drama in Oscar-winning films! Theo Compernolle warned that this might be “the beginning of an addiction.” I mean, is it really a good idea to let little Timmy think that digital characters are more entertaining than his plush bear?
The Babysitter Conundrum: Screens as Nannies
Let’s talk about the real Horror Story: parents using TV and tablets as babysitters. *Oh, I’ll just plop him in front of *Teletubbies* while I cook.* But wait! Marion strongly advised against it, saying children barely learn anything before age three and end up overstimulated. So what’s happening here? Parents are basically preparing their kids for a lifelong rendezvous with screens – imagine the therapy bills!
Proud Parent Syndrome: A Dangerous Trend
Brace yourselves for some shocking parental behavior – we’ve got parents puffs their chests proudly claiming, “My baby can swipe!” Honestly, what’s next? “My infant can edit videos”? No! The baby isn’t learning; he’s merely conditioned to tap like a trained animal. Who knew toddlers were training to be the next iPad whisperers?
The Comforting Controller: A Disturbance in Parenting
Finally, let’s touch on the smartphone as a comforting crutch. Are we really giving our kids screens when they’re upset? According to Marion, that’s a bit like saying, “Hey kid, here’s a lifelong addiction to accompany you through adolescence.” Next stop? Controllers as coping mechanisms. It doesn’t take a psychic to see where that’s heading!
Conclusion: A Sobering Screen Time Reality Check
As our story unfolds, it’s evident that children today might be navigating a screeny maze that even David Blaine would envy. Screen time may promise joyous learning but results in toddlers devolving into techno-zombies, tantrum machines. So let’s wrap them in more colorful toys, read them stories, and ditch the binge-watching because trust me, your kids’ future selves (and their therapists) will thank you!
Remember: Kids grow up faster than you think. Let’s make those growing-up years a little healthier, shall we?
