Young children's screen time during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 12 countries

Area of Science:

• Child Development
• Public Health
• Digital Media Studies

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated widespread lockdowns globally.
• Older children with online schooling experienced increased screen time.
• The impact on screen time for younger children without online schooling needs remained unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether toddlers (8-36 months) without online schooling requirements also showed increased screen time during the initial COVID-19 lockdown.
• To identify factors associated with screen time changes in this age group during lockdown.

Main Methods:

• A large international cohort study (n=2209) of children aged 8-36 months.
• Data collected from caregivers across 15 labs in 12 countries.
• Caregiver-reported screen time data before and during the first COVID-19 lockdown.

Main Results:

• Toddlers without online schooling requirements exhibited increased screen time during lockdown compared to pre-lockdown periods.
• The increase in screen time was more pronounced in countries with longer lockdowns.
• Screen time during lockdown was negatively associated with socio-economic status (SES) and positively associated with child age, caregiver screen time, and caregiver attitudes towards screen time.
• No association was found between the increase in screen time and socio-demographic variables like child age and SES.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 lockdown significantly impacted screen time habits in young children, irrespective of online schooling requirements.
• Factors such as caregiver behavior and attitudes play a role in children's screen time during periods of confinement.
• Findings underscore the need for guidelines on managing young children's screen time during public health crises.