Don’t be afraid to let your kids get bored
The use of digital devices is not recommended at all for children under the age of three, as it can have an adverse impact on children’s motor and speech development, as highlighted in the latest publication by Bethesda Children’s Hospital and the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH), and more. The primary aim of the info sheet “Big Screens in Little Hands” (Kis kezekben nagy képernyők) is to provide professional advice to help parents reduce their young children’s screen time. In addition, experts from both institutions point out that consistency in being a parental role model is also essential for protecting the youngest children online.
“Big Screens in Little Hands — A Guide for Parents on Digital Device Use in Early Childhood” (Kis kezekben nagy képernyők – Útmutató szülőknek a kora gyermekkori digitáliseszköz-használathoz) is the joint leaflet published by Bethesda Children’s Hospital and the NMHH, providing guidance for parents of young children based on scientific evidence. Its core idea is that the first years in children’s lives are crucial for their physical, intellectual and emotional development; therefore, it is important to consider consciously shaping digital habits beginning as early as pregnancy. Experts emphasise that the goal is not to eliminate technology entirely, but to establish a consistent set of family rules and digital house rules that protect children’s development while helping maintain a healthy balance between home life and the digital world.
According to research by the NMHH, 87% of pre-school-aged children now use digital devices and one in ten children has their own device, which significantly increases the risk of device use without parental control. Screens are already a part of the lives of four-fifths of three-year-olds, although the scientific charter from Bethesda Children’s Hospital does not recommend the use of such devices at all for children under three, while for pre-schoolers, the recommended screen time is no more than 30 minutes per day. It has been proven that too early and excessive use of electronic devices can hamper motor and speech development, inhibit the production of melatonin necessary for restful sleep and, in the long term, lead to obesity, mood swings, and “digital eye strain”.
The info sheet also highlights the phenomenon known as “techno-ference” where technological factors, such as notifications or quick glances at the phone, disrupt the deep bond between parent and child, reducing the child’s sense of emotional security. Experts encourage parents not to be afraid of boredom as it is “the gateway to creativity”: if you let your children get bored sometimes, their brains will shift gears after 10 to 15 minutes and they’ll be able to play and explore on their own. Guided by the principle of “connection instead of screens”, the publication presents offline alternatives, such as participating in physical activity together, storytime or creative activities, that develop mental visualisation, fine motor skills and emotional regulation more effectively than ready-made digital content.
To provide practical assistance, the publication provides parents with a downloadable digital template to help set digital house rules, contributing to establishing rules tailored to the family’s specific needs. According to these authors, such rules are credible only when parents set a good example through their own device use as being a parental role model is the strongest guide for children. The guide also addresses the dangers of “sharenting”, that is parents posting too much about their children, and offers advice on how to reduce children’s digital footprints and protect their privacy.
The publication is available in its entirety to download for free at the following link: Kis kezekben nagy képernyők (Big Screens in Little Hands) – National Media and Infocommunications Authority
