You need a few minutes to cook dinner, do chores, go to the bathroom or just be alone with your thoughts. So you plop your toddler in front of the television or iPad to keep them occupied while you get something done. No big deal, right?
Apparently, it is. A new study from Drexel University says that exposing babies and toddlers under age 2 to any amount of television viewing and other forms of “screen time” could be harmful to their sensory development.
More from Mom.com: Navigating Screen Time Boundaries with Dr. Becky Kennedy
“This association could have important implications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism, as atypical sensory processing is much more prevalent in these populations,” lead author Karen Heffler, MD, an associate professor of Psychiatry in Drexel’s College of Medicine, said in the press release.
While the study does note a correlation between neurodivergent problems and screen time, it does not say the latter causes the former.
The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages any screen time for children under the age of 2, with the one exception of video calls. It recommends only one hour of viewing for children ages 2-5
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Chris Mautner
pennlive.com
(TNS)
