Helsinki: After a long study in Finland, experts warn that young children who watch cartoons on TV, smartphones and tablets for a long time suffer from various psychological problems at the age of only five.
The study was conducted at Helsinki Central Hospital from 2011 to 2017 under the leadership of Dr. Julia Pavonen, a pediatric psychiatrist.
During this time, the daily use of TVs, smartphones and tablets in 699 children aged 18 months (one and a half years) was examined to find out how these devices affect the mood of these children.
Statistics show that 23 percent of 18-month-olds and 95 percent of five-year-olds spend more than an hour a day in front of these devices. Which is in excess of the World Health Organization limit.
The World Health Organization has set a maximum daily limit of one hour (60 minutes) for children to watch TV, smartphone and tablet (screen time).
At 18 months of age, the average daily screen time for children was 32 minutes, increasing to 114 minutes (approximately 2 hours) per day by the age of five.
In contrast, children who were accustomed to playing video games for hours daily on TV, smartphone and tablet did not experience any such psychological problems.
Experts found that children who spent a lot of time in front of TVs, smartphones and tablet screens to watch cartoons, etc., clearly saw a variety of psychological problems. For example:
Emotional issues such as mood swings, fear, anxiety and depression;
Behavioral problems, such as hostility, arguing and severe difficulty controlling anger, etc .; And
Attention problems, especially reactive moods, confusion and difficulty concentrating.
This discovery is important in light of the fact that with the advancement of technology, children and adults of all ages are increasingly using smartphones and tablets.
In a report published a few days ago on the website of the online research journal BMJ Open, Dr. Powen and his colleagues advised everyone, especially young children, to watch television. Do not allow them to sit in front of computers, smartphones and tablet screens for too long, but give them more opportunities for other activities so that they are protected from psychological problems at an early age.
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