· By S. S. Coulter
Screen Time and Child Anxiety: The Connection and What We Must Do
We are all capable of seeing how anxious kids are right now. To me – and I’m sure to most of you reading this – this is devastating. Childhood is supposed to be a magical time of fun, dreams, and giggles; not sadness, sleeplessness, and worry. So what is causing this? One of the main culprits is screen time. Let’s take a quick look at statistics and then let’s smile – because this particular culprit is something we adults can help control!*
First, I always like to point out that technology isn’t all bad. It provides educational and entertainment benefits. It’s excessive screentime – for our kids and US – that’s the problem.
The Staggering Statistics
Here are some statistics for you.
- Since 2010, major depression among teenagers has risen by an astonishing 145% in girls and 161% in boys.
- The age at which kids engage with media on a regular basis has fallen from four years in 1970 to four months in the present day.
- In the past two decades, screen time among children aged 0−2 years has doubled.
- See more at: Technology Addiction Statistics: A Wake-Up Call for Parents
It has become completely normalized for parents to shove screens in front of babies. I’m not blaming anyone. It’s called Mere Exposure Effect – the psychological phenomenon where individuals tend to develop a preference for things simply because they have been repeatedly exposed to them. It used to be frowned upon, but because we have repeatedly seen parents handing babies technology on commercials, in magazines, etc., it has become “the norm.” We stopped thinking it was weird and began to do it ourselves.
Hold up! I say we go back to thinking it’s weird. Why? Check this out:
The Devastating Effects of Excessive Screen Time
Screen media overuse is associated with:
- Poorer sleep quality and shorter sleep duration
- Greater likelihood for overweight/obesity
- Lower executive functioning (mental processes that help individuals plan, organize, and manage their tasks and behaviors)
- Poorer academic performance
- Lower emotion-regulation skills because of substituted digital media use
- Increased social anxiety from avoidance of social interaction
- Heightened anxiety because of worries about being inadequately connected
- Increased suicide as the result of cyberbullying and related behavior
Need I go on?
How Excessive Parent Technology Use (PTU) Affects Kids
While children’s own use of technology certainly has an effect on their mental health, did you know that PTU also has a huge impact? In a May 2025 report, it was noted that “Parental technology use in their child’s presence was significantly associated with poorer cognition and prosocial behavior, lower attachment,” and more. Woah. This phenomenon is called “technoference” and is having a significant impact on our little ones.
A September 2024 report on technoference concluded that screen-addicted parents ruin their kids’ language development skills. In fact, "none of the screen-based activities that children, mothers, and fathers engaged in, including co-viewing of screens and socializing time, were found to positively relate to language skills." This is a big deal, guys.
As Jonathan Haidt, author of “Anxious Generation,” says, we’ve shifted childhood development from “play-based” to “phone-based,” and the consequences are often devastating.
Let’s get back to play-based. We can do this together!
What Can Parents Do?
I’ve written Balancing Screen Time for Kids: 3 Effective Strategies and Fostering Curiosity in Kids: 10 Effective Strategies about ways to combat this phenomenon, but here’s some more guidance:
- Set Boundaries: Establish clear rules about screen time usage, ensuring children have ample time for offline activities.
- Encourage Physical Activity: Promote outdoor play and physical exercise to help reduce anxiety levels.
- Model Healthy Behavior: Children often mimic adult behavior. Limiting your own screen time can set a positive example.
- Open Communication: Talk to your children about their online experiences and feelings, fostering an environment where they feel comfortable sharing concerns.
How Can I Help You?
This is a big deal, and I am here for you! Please check out my children's books and free activities. They are here to help you help your kids get offline and interested in their wonderful imaginations!
* I included the following quote to help you see that the exposure to excessive screentime is a stressor we can actually help combat:
“It’s important for both parents and professionals to understand this one foundational truth regarding the neuroscience of anxiety – no matter what type or kind of stress the child was exposed to, the nervous system responds the same, with an excessive amount of sympathetic fight or flight response that over time (when exposed to early or chronic stress) becomes overactive and ‘stuck on’ a vicious cycle.” - PX Docs
More information and resources:
How Screen Time Affects Children’s Motor Skills
Beware! Screen Time Impacts Kids’ Emotional Health
Parents’ obsessive technology use may have serious long-term effects on babies and toddlers: study in New York Post
Exploring the Connection Between the Overuse of Technology and Teen Anxiety by PX Docs
Digital Media, Anxiety, and Depression in Children by American Academy of Pediatrics