Tokyo: A new study by researchers from Osaka University and the Hamamatsu University School of Medicine in Japan revealed that spending an hour or more in front of digital devices each day has a more limited effect on 2-year-olds' growth and development than previously thought.
The findings came amid persisting concerns over the adverse effects of smartphone use by children, with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommending in its guidelines that 2-year-olds should not be exposed to sedentary screen time, defined as activities such as watching TV and playing computer games, for over one hour a day.
The study analyzed past data collected on 885 children born between December 2007 and March 2012, and monitored them until they were between 18 months and 4 years old. The average screen time for the young children who took part in the research was 2.6 hours per day.
"In the modern era, we cannot avoid using screens and digital technology in daily life, so we should explore a smart way to mitigate their negative effects," said Kenji Tsuchiya, a professor in child development at Osaka University who was involved in the research.
The study also found that the negative effects of a day's screen time on children can be reduced by letting them play outside for more than 30 minutes.
