Are Peppa Pig, Coco Melon and cartoon marathons on phones turning your kid into a zombie? Here’s what a new study says

Parents can develop the power of empathy, imagination and communication in simple ways, says Dr Rajesh Sagar, Professor of Psychiatry, AIIMS, New Delhi

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Can even safe, learner-friendly and educational cartoons with “positive” messaging stunt emotional growth, attention span and problem-solving abilities in children? A recent study confirms what has already been found before, that even popular cartoons like Peppa Pig and Coco Melon, which are used by many parents as a babysitting tool or as a diversion to get their toddlers to eat and comply with tasks, could rob them of the power of empathy, imagination and communication.

The Japanese study, published in the JAMA Network, found that greater screen time for children aged one year was associated with developmental delays in communication and problem-solving at ages two and four years. So, what are the red flags that parents should watch out for? According to Dr Rajesh Sagar, Professor of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, “No matter how educational or involving a cartoon or show is, excessive exposure to screen time or overindulgence can make your child a zombie, affecting their sleep and feeding patterns as well as the severity of their crying bouts and stubbornness to follow parental directives.” In fact, he says toddlers should not be exposed to digital devices till they turn three. When children spend more time online, it leads to a decline in face-to-face communication skills, emotional intelligence, and the ability to form deep and meaningful relationships offline.

Any behavioural changes to watch out for?

We get complaints that the toddler is so addicted to phones or devices that they refuse to participate in any other activity and become rebellious to the point of their parents having no option but to give in. At our OPD, we see hassled parents reporting such extreme addictive behaviour. Also watch out for attention deficit problems, or delayed development milestones. Unfortunately, there is no forward development in making drawing books look more attractive or board games more engaging. Children would colour books and solve puzzles physically that led to coordination of both limbs and mind. A tablet doesn’t give you this learning opportunity.

How does screen time reduce attention span?

There’s no doubt that engaging content works for improving attention in the short run. But such sustained behaviour over a longer time period builds dependency and an inability to process and ideate on one’s own.

What are the lessons for parents?

Parents must understand that they must be seen as primary anchors of their child’s life and not seen as distancing themselves, leaving the child to fend for themselves in ways that are easily available. A game device is the easiest thing a child can access. A comfortable and conducive environment for the child means that you become involved in all their activities and encourage good behaviour. And this is a process rather than a quick fix problem that most parents seek. Sometimes the anxiety of a parent passes on to a child, who may become more rebellious.

Since children are attracted towards sounds and visuals, develop a physical substitute that works for them. Each child is different, and we need to work on that. Once the child compares a static digital experience with a full physical and mental experience, they will automatically gravitate to the latter or at least know there is a choice of routines.

Do cartoon shows take away a child’s imagination and creativity?

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Yes, they do. If you have a remote control in your hand and know that you have the power to change your viewing experience, you will get bored easily and always seek novelty and gratification elsewhere. So, while the digital device may draw the child in easily, over time there will be a drop in attention spans that can affect their ability to process and make choices. The child becomes impulsive and aggressive.

In the end, a parent’s protective power should be higher than the risk factor or triggers. You cannot shut down a child’s exposure to devices entirely or shut them out of educational cartoon shows but you can become a buffer and a support system to mitigate any adverse fallout.