THE popularity of electronic games prompts us to share worrying data on the usage of electronic screens by young children.
The Clinical Research Centre Perak conducted a study last year, asking parents of two-year-olds to recall the past 24 hours of their screen usage.
After interviewing 340 parents we found that the average two-year-old Malaysian child spends six hours on screens daily.
The time spent on screens is extremely worrying: 73% of them used hand phones or tablets; 95% were engaging two screens at the same time (TV on all the time); and 49% were using screens unaccompanied.
Many parents and child minders use screens as convenient babysitters but there is increasing research to show that electronic screens affect young children adversely.
Young children who watch screens for more than two hours a day are six times more likely to develop a language delay (American Association of Paediatrics 2011).
Medical professionals who work extensively with children are concerned with the increasing numbers presenting with speech delay locally.
Other studies have found that excessive screen time impairs child-parent interactions, are linked to obesity through a sedentary lifestyle, predispose the child to screen addiction, affect sleep and emotional wellbeing, and learning.
The content that children watch is also important. They may be exposed to inappropriate content or be accessible to online risks.
Our study showed that half the two-year-olds were using screens unsupervised.
We strongly encourage parents and child minders not to make electronic screens available to young children.
Children below two should not be exposed to any screens, including television.
Children two to five years old should have a maximum of two hours a day with screens, always supervised and preferably in an interactive way with parents or child minders.
In addition, we recognise that many adults and families need breaks from their screens.
Most Malaysians appear to be "addicted" to their screens. We strongly recommend at least one to two screen-free-days for the family weekly.
During this time the family should avoid TV, tablets, hand phones, computers, electronic games, music, etc.
We suggest turning off your WiFi and data plan and silencing all notifications except phone calls.
We recommend you spend time outdoors, preferably with nature (not just with food).
We also suggest not taking any pictures or selfies but spend time listening to each other.
As a society, we need to balance the use of electronic devices, especially hand phones and tablets.
Parents and child minders must use electronic screens wisely in the lives of children. Excessive use may impair their development and irreparably affect their future.
Suria Junus (Research Officer)
Datuk Dr Amar-Singh HSS (Head)
Clinical Research Centre Perak
The Clinical Research Centre Perak conducted a study last year, asking parents of two-year-olds to recall the past 24 hours of their screen usage.
After interviewing 340 parents we found that the average two-year-old Malaysian child spends six hours on screens daily.
The time spent on screens is extremely worrying: 73% of them used hand phones or tablets; 95% were engaging two screens at the same time (TV on all the time); and 49% were using screens unaccompanied.
Many parents and child minders use screens as convenient babysitters but there is increasing research to show that electronic screens affect young children adversely.
Young children who watch screens for more than two hours a day are six times more likely to develop a language delay (American Association of Paediatrics 2011).
Medical professionals who work extensively with children are concerned with the increasing numbers presenting with speech delay locally.
Other studies have found that excessive screen time impairs child-parent interactions, are linked to obesity through a sedentary lifestyle, predispose the child to screen addiction, affect sleep and emotional wellbeing, and learning.
The content that children watch is also important. They may be exposed to inappropriate content or be accessible to online risks.
Our study showed that half the two-year-olds were using screens unsupervised.
We strongly encourage parents and child minders not to make electronic screens available to young children.
Children below two should not be exposed to any screens, including television.
Children two to five years old should have a maximum of two hours a day with screens, always supervised and preferably in an interactive way with parents or child minders.
In addition, we recognise that many adults and families need breaks from their screens.
Most Malaysians appear to be "addicted" to their screens. We strongly recommend at least one to two screen-free-days for the family weekly.
During this time the family should avoid TV, tablets, hand phones, computers, electronic games, music, etc.
We suggest turning off your WiFi and data plan and silencing all notifications except phone calls.
We recommend you spend time outdoors, preferably with nature (not just with food).
We also suggest not taking any pictures or selfies but spend time listening to each other.
As a society, we need to balance the use of electronic devices, especially hand phones and tablets.
Parents and child minders must use electronic screens wisely in the lives of children. Excessive use may impair their development and irreparably affect their future.
Suria Junus (Research Officer)
Datuk Dr Amar-Singh HSS (Head)
Clinical Research Centre Perak