Do screens harm young children?

The UK government has issued new guidance on children’s use of gadgets. For children under two, screen time should be eliminated altogether, except for shared activities such as video calls. For children ages two to five, the recommended limit is one hour per day. The guidance also emphasizes that co-viewing content is preferable to letting children watch alone.

This position aligns with World Health Organization recommendations, which also advise avoiding screens before age two and limiting screen time to one hour for children under four.

According to The Conversation Education, the period from birth to age six is a critical window for developing social and communication skills. During this time, children learn how to interact with others, express their needs, and recognize social cues. Given the widespread presence of touchscreen technology, it is important to understand its impact on early development.

The Double-Edged Impact of Technology

Excessive use of touchscreens has been linked to delayed expressive language development, shorter attention spans, and poorer parent-child interaction quality. When children use devices passively or in isolation, they lose opportunities to practice communication skills and emotional intelligence. A study by Debdut Dhar and colleagues found that children ages 1 to 6 who spent more than two hours a day in front of screens showed delays in fine motor, language, and social development.

At the same time, early exposure to multimodal technologies that combine sound, visuals, touch, and movement can also have positive effects. Digital platforms that encourage storytelling, role-play, and collaborative activities can support language development. Touch interfaces allow children to solve problems together, take turns, and hold conversations, strengthening cooperation skills. A systematic review by Diana Ariabiat and co-authors found that the use of interactive digital technologies was positively associated with receptive language development and executive function in young children.

These tools also open up opportunities for long-distance communication. Video chat apps make it possible to maintain face-to-face contact with relatives and friends, helping children build emotional bonds.

The Role of Parental Attention

The issue of screen use is not limited to children; it also affects parents. When adults are absorbed in their own devices, they talk less with their children, depriving them of interaction that is important for learning.

Using touch devices directly affects the quality of communication. Studies show that when parents read e-books, their attention often shifts from the story itself to the device, which reduces the value of reading together. Excessive gadget use can also make it harder for children to recognize social and emotional cues.

Cultural habits and parental attitudes play an important role. In some countries with a strong outdoor culture, such as Norway and Portugal, parents are more likely to prioritize physical activity in nature over screen time. This cultural environment directly shapes children’s digital habits.

Why It Matters for School Readiness

Social communication skills — the ability to listen, express ideas, and understand others — are fundamental to a successful start in school. Touchscreens can help develop these skills, but only when they are used interactively and together with others.

As The Conversation Education notes, the question is not whether children should use touchscreens, but how they use them. If high-quality digital experiences enrich development, passive consumption and replacing real human interaction with gadgets can be harmful. As technology continues to evolve, the key challenge remains ensuring that children’s engagement with the digital world is balanced, meaningful, and socially connected.