Hungarian pre-schoolers in digital trap?
Although nine out of ten Hungarian pre-schoolers use some kind of digital device, the vast majority of parents are seriously concerned about this phenomenon. A survey commissioned by the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH) shows that 71% of parents believe that screen time has rather negative impact on children’s development. However, it is difficult to set boundaries for content consumption in everyday life, as parents report that 83% of children who use digital devices have difficulty disconnecting.
Commissioned by the NMHH, the study surveying 1,875 parents mapped the digital habits of 3-6 year olds in unprecedented detail. The results highlight the contradiction that although parents are aware of the dangers, they are often powerless in practice.
International recommendations, including guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO), suggest that screen time for 2-5 year olds should not exceed one hour per day. According to a professional charter published by Bethesda Children’s Hospital and endorsed by Hungarian paediatricians and professional organisations, it is not recommended at all for children under three years of age to have screen time and a maximum of 30 minutes is recommended for pre-schoolers. By contrast, Hungarian pre-schoolers spend an average of 7.7 hours a week on digital devices. The situation becomes really critical on weekends: on a typical weekend day, half of the children spend an hour or two or even more in front of a screen.
The study highlights that parents believe that excessive device use causes obvious behavioural issues. The most commonly seen negative consequences include aggressive behaviour and irritability, attention deficit and concentration issues as well as lack of exercise and sleep issues. Disconnection from devices is a major source of everyday conflict: pre-schoolers are not yet able to effectively control their impulses, with 83% of the parents surveyed having encountered difficulties in getting their child to stop using digital devices.
Parental guilt and critical situations are also clearly reflected in the data. Four in ten parents have felt bad about their child’s use of digital devices. This is often driven by the realisation that the device is being used as a distraction or for comfort: a third of pre-schoolers with digital devices have had several occasions where their parents were only able to calm them down with the help of a gadget.
The results of this large-scale national survey are included in “Óvodások és a média” (Pre-Schoolers and the Media) published by the National Media and Infocommunications Authority and Eszterházy Károly Catholic University. This long-needed professional publication looks at the specific characteristics, risks and social aspects of the use of digital devices by the youngest generation.