Startling gaps in Awareness

Speech and Hearing Specialist Priyank Bhutani, A Co-Outhor of the Study and PHD Scholar at Tezpur University, Said the Research was Driven by a Lack of Indian Data on How Screen Time Active Time. “About 13 per cent

This stands in Stark Contrast to World Health Organization Guidelines, What Recommend Zero Screen Time for Children under 2, and no more than one hour of supervised, high-quality content for ages 2-5. Instead, activities like reading or storytelling with a caregiver are encouraged.

“Screens were used to feed, soothe, and occupy kids,” Bhutani Said. “Children with Higher Screen Time was found to engage less in talking with parents and peers, had reduced outdoor play and just likely likely to participate to participial mention,” The Studi Mention.

When convenience beomes Dependency

Bhutani describes screens as “digital helpers” that became indispensable during and after the covid-19 pandemic. “They have the easiest way to keep children Occupied While Parents Focused on Daily responsibilities.”

This resonates with many urban parents. Natasha Puri, a mother of two toodlers aged two and four, admitted, “With young kids, a job, and trying to protect my mental health, screen time is a crutch. Were way over the 20-minute recommendation, but it’s the best I can manage. “

Similarily, Ratish Sreekumar, 41, Father to Two Children Aged Two and Five, Said: “It started with the intention of augmented learning, but yes, I’D be lying if I Said IF I SAID I SAID I SAID I SAID I SAID I SAID IF IF IF IF Him Occupied Didn ‘Play a Role. “

Mental Health Professionals stressed that addressing this issue requires understanding, not condemnation. (Source: Freepik)

The invisible developmental losses

What make this trend particularly concerning is how screens are infiltrating critical learning moments. The damage isn is just about time spent on screens, it’s about what time is replacing. “When a child Eids while staring at a screen, they not experiencing the food – how it smells, tastes, feels,” Bhutani Said. “Gone is the baby talk: ‘Open your mouth, it’s yum!’ There is no interaction. “

This loss of communication is being seen in clinics. “As a speech and language therapist, I’m seen a surge in Parents Reporting Delays in Speech and Language,” Bhutani Said.

The underlying issues, he explained, is fundamental: “Language is a learned Behaviour.

The subtle signs parents miss

Mental Health Professionals are observing similar patterns. Dr Sakshi mehrotra, an existential humanist therapist and founder of mindlogs, noted a riser in toddlers with “delayed speech, reduced eye contact, poor frustration toolerance, and difficulties Or Independent Exploration, All Foundational to Healthy Emotional and Cognitive Development. “

“Often, these signs get get misread – Parents might assume the child is just shy or independent,” she said. “Reduced curiosity or playfulness – the child preferring passive screen time over exploring toys, nature, or social spaces – difference tolerating boredom, meltdowns in the score Self-Soothe Without digital distraction is all red flags. “

Counsering psychologist Rajvi Turakhia describes this as “digital dysregulation.” Children exposed to fast-paced screen content become desensitised to normal stimuli. “The Brain Begins craving the dopamine hit of Quick Cuts, Loud Sounds, and Instant Gratification. Once the Screen’s Off, Regular Life Feels Boring or Even Frustrating.”

Real Parents, Real Struggles

Many Parents are awaare of the risks but feel stuck. Neha Popli Dhamija, A Teacher and Mother of a 4-Year -lod, Said, “My Daughter Started Mimicking Cartoon Characters and Herving Like Thom. Different in her mood and Attention Span. ” She also said, “in Hindsight, too much screen time hindered development, not just for my giving but many people around. Screen exposure. “

Abhilasha Daga, Mother of a 3-Year-ald, Said, “On High Screen Time Days, He More Irritable, Less Responsive, And Harder to Settle at Bedtime.

For sreekumar, the effects were Behavioural. “My 2-yar-brod beomes more stubborn and unruly after screen time, so we are started capping it and being more likely about the content.”

Despite Widespread Awareness That Excessive Screen Time Isnt Ideal, Parents Consistently Report a Lack of Practical, Accessible Guidance. (Source: Freepik)

The content conundrum

The study found that what Children watch is just as important as how long they watch. The Who Guidelines Specify That Eve the Permitted Hour for Two-Five Year olds should be “assisted”. Bhutani stressed that screen time must be interactive and supervised. “It should be co-seen, not passive,” he said. “We must pay Attention to both duration and content.”

Puri noted changes in her son’s Behaviour Depending on what he was watching. “He was more aggressive when watching angry dinosaurs. I had to ban that content.”

The Information Gap

Despite Widespread Awareness That Excessive Screen Time Isnt Ideal, Parents Consistently Report a Lack of Practical, Accessible Guidance. “I don’t think there’s Enough clear or accessible guidance For Indian Parents. Most information is Eather Too Technical OR Hidden Behind Paywalls/Paid Subscribers. There is also a lot of conflicting advice online, “said abhilasha.

This echoes the research findings. “There is a Huge Gap,” Bhutani Said, Adding, “There should be an Indian-based, Indian Context on Indian Data Guidelines.

Turakhia Said, “There is a serious lack of accessible, non-gudmental psychoEDUDUCATION for Parents. Many people have the information they need to make informed choices or are alternatively. Like. “

A call for support, not shame

Mental Health Professionals stressed that addressing this issue requires understanding, not condemnation. “Parents are doing their best with limited tools,” Said dr mehrotra. “Many believe that education apps Compensate for Real-Life Interaction, but they do.”

Turakhia Points Out That Modern Parenting is Uniquely Challenging. “Dual-Inne Homes, Limited Support, and Digital Distations have Reshaped The Parenting Landscape. Routines, or co-witing on weekends. “

Is there steill some hope?

The good news is that it’s not too late. “Children’s brains are incredibly plastic in the early years,” Turakhia explained. “Even small changes can yield significant improvements – if Parents have the right tools.”

Bhutani Emphasis The Bigger Picture. “If this continues uncheckked, Screen exposure Could Becom a Public Health crisis. We need awareness campaigns, Government-Red Initiatives, and Most Important, support for Parents Who Want To Do But But Don’t know. ” He also said, “Most parents know there’s a problem. They do not in denial, they just need help navigating it. “

As India Continues Its Digital Transformation, The Goal, Experts Agreed, Is To Help Families Make Informed Choices. The challenge isn is that to Eliminate Screens entryly but to find a sustainable balance. “It’s about slowly reclaiming space for shared, screen-free moments that nurture bottom parent and child,” Dr Mehrotra Said.