Letting babies watch TV, use tablets or phones can harm their academic achievement and emotional well-being later, according to a new study.
Researchers found that sitting for hours in front of the screen affected what is known as executive functioning , writes the study published in JAMA Pediatrics.
These executive functioning skills are important for emotion regulation, learning, academic achievement, and mental health.
The results support recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which states that children should not be in front of the phone/TV before the age of 18 months.
And yet, sometimes parents have other essential activities to attend to, and the phone can seem like a quick fix to calm the kids down. Experts advise to involve the child in household chores whenever possible.