NEW DELHI: Children under the age of five in India are spending an average of 2.2 hours per day in front of screens — more than double the recommended limit — according to a recent study. The findings raise serious concerns about the long-term physical, cognitive, and emotional development of young children exposed to excessive digital content.

Conducted by researchers Ashish Khobragade and M Swathi Shenoy from AIIMS Raipur, the study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Cureus. It analyzed data from 10 separate studies covering 2,857 children to arrive at a concerning conclusion: screen exposure in early childhood is becoming a widespread issue.

For children under two, the situation is even more alarming. The study found that their average daily screen time is around 1.2 hours — despite global pediatric guidelines recommending zero screen exposure for this age group.

The Risks of Excessive Screen Time

The research highlights several risks associated with too much screen time in early childhood:

“These early years are critical for brain development,” the study notes, adding that too much screen use can hinder a child's ability to interact meaningfully with their environment, caregivers, and peers.

What Can Parents Do?

To help mitigate these effects, the study recommends the following strategies for families:

Dr. D.K. Gupta, a child health specialist and chairman of Felix Hospitals, stressed the growing severity of the problem. “Nearly 60–70% of children under the age of five are spending more time on mobile phones, laptops, or TVs than is considered healthy,” he said. “This is contributing to a rise in physical issues like poor posture and eye strain, as well as behavioral problems such as irritability, attention deficits, and mood swings.”

Dr. Gupta emphasized that parents play a central role in changing this trend. “Parents must avoid handing devices to their children during meals or when they’re upset. Most importantly, they need to model better screen habits themselves.”

Official Advisory for Parents

In a proactive move, the Chief Medical Officer of Ghaziabad recently issued an advisory for parents, highlighting the growing problem of screen addiction among children. The notice detailed how excessive device use is contributing to anxiety, aggression, attention issues, and withdrawal in children — and encouraged parents to promote outdoor play, social interaction, and real-world learning experiences.

Aggression and Withdrawal Among Pre-Teens

Doctors are increasingly seeing signs of digital dependence in children as young as 10 or 12. One pediatrician noted, “I’ve had parents come in with pre-teens who become restless or aggressive when their internet use is monitored. The emotional reaction is intense — they lash out, become irritable, and sometimes even refuse to engage in family activities.”

The problem, experts warn, is not just screen time quantity but also the quality of content children are exposed to. “Responsible digital citizenship starts at home,” said one specialist. “Teaching children how to use screens mindfully — not just monitoring time but also supervising what they’re watching — is essential.”

The Bottom Line

The message from health experts is clear: screen time among Indian children, especially those under five, is well above healthy levels and is causing measurable harm. Parents, caregivers, and educators must take urgent steps to curb excessive use and promote healthier alternatives that foster creativity, communication, and connection.

Setting firm boundaries, leading by example, and engaging children in real-life experiences can go a long way in reversing this growing digital dependence.