In today’s world, digital devices have become deeply integrated into our lives, and it’s common to see young children using tablets or smartphones. However, recent research suggests that using digital devices when children cry or throw tantrums is not an ideal solution. This finding comes from a study conducted by a joint research team from Sherbrooke University in Canada and Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary.
Research Findings and Analysis
The research team surveyed 300 parents of children aged 2 to 5. The study found that children who were given digital devices whenever they were upset had significantly poorer emotional regulation skills compared to those who were not. Children learn self-regulation, that is, emotional, mental, and behavioral responses in specific situations, during their early years, and digital devices can interfere with this process.
Effortful Control and Emotional Regulation
During the first few years of life, children learn effortful control through interactions with their parents. This is a crucial skill. However, if digital devices take over this role, children do not learn how to properly regulate their emotions. Dr. Veronika Konok, the lead researcher, warned, “If parents frequently use digital devices to soothe an upset child, the child fails to learn proper emotional regulation. This could lead to more severe emotional regulation issues, such as anger management problems, in the future.”
Negative Effects of Digital Devices
The research indicates that digital devices are used as tools to avoid feelings of irritation or frustration, leading children to avoid dealing with problems and thus impairing their emotional regulation skills. For example, if a parent gives a tablet to a child to calm them down, the child avoids dealing with their emotions directly, which can worsen emotional regulation problems in the long run.
Positive Parenting Approaches
Parents should teach children how to handle their emotions when they are frustrated or upset instead of using digital devices. When a child experiences negative emotions, it is important for parents to approach them warmly and teach them how to recognize and manage their emotions. This plays a crucial role in developing healthy emotional regulation skills as the child grows.
Conclusion
While digital devices may temporarily stop a child’s tantrum, they can hinder emotional regulation skills in the long term. It is important for parents to teach emotional regulation through direct interaction when a child experiences negative emotions. Children need to learn how to manage negative emotions on their own, and this learning process requires the loving support of their parents.
Reference: Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, “Cure for tantrums? Longitudinal associations between parental digital emotion regulation and children’s self-regulatory skills”