A new study has found that tantrums, although they are a normal part of childhood, when mismanaged with digital devices dubbed “digital pacifiers”, can adversely affect a child’s emotional development. The study, published in Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, emphasizes the importance of allowing children to experience and manage negative emotions with parental guidance rather than digital intervention.
Digital pacifiers affect emotional regulation
Self-regulation, which involves controlling affective, mental, and behavioral responses to situations, is crucially developed in early childhood. However, the increasing use of digital devices to manage children’s emotional responses has raised concerns among researchers.
Dr. Veronika Konok from Eötvös Loránd University, the study’s first author, highlighted that children who frequently received digital devices during tantrums exhibited greater difficulties in regulating emotions, particularly anger, as they grew older.
The study’s senior author, Professor Caroline Fitzpatrick of the Université de Sherbrooke, noted that parents often resort to digital distractions because of their immediate effectiveness in calming children. However, this short-term solution does not offer long-term benefits.
To investigate this, researchers conducted assessments in 2020 and a follow-up a year later, surveying over 300 parents of children aged two to five about their and their children’s media usage. Results indicated that frequent use of digital devices to manage negative emotions was associated with poorer anger and frustration management skills in children a year later.
Use of digital devices to manage tantrums leads to less effortful control
Additionally, children who were regularly given devices during emotional episodes showed less effortful control in subsequent assessments. Konok stressed that children need to learn to manage their emotions without relying on digital devices.
The study also found that children with pre-existing anger management issues were more likely to be given digital devices, potentially exacerbating the problem. Researchers recommend that parents should not avoid potentially frustrating situations but rather coach their children through them, helping them recognize and handle their emotions.
Fitzpatrick emphasized that increased awareness about the limitations and potential harms of using digital devices for tantrum management could lead to improved mental health and well-being for children.
