What does the use of digital media in early childhood mean?

media consumption

Young woman with black hair on a yellow background.

Digital media consumption in preschool age

Children today come into contact with screen media at an early age. Television, smartphones, tablets, and computers are an integral part of everyday life in most families and therefore also spark the interest of the youngest. Children of all ages are captivated by colorful and moving images, which keeps them quietly in front of the screen for a while. For parents, this offers a welcome break. However, how children perceive, process, and understand digital media depends on their stage of development. Too much new information at once can quickly overwhelm preschool children. They struggle to connect rapidly changing scenes to their own lived experiences, understand unfamiliar words, and process content. The virtual world remains abstract and difficult for young children to grasp because digital media do not replace real life experiences. Screen media primarily engage sight and hearing but fail to include touch, motor skills, and active experiences, which are essential for child development. Additionally, excessive media consumption can impair both a child's concentration and their natural curiosity about the real world. Experts advise against any media use for children up to the age of 3. From the age of 4, media should be used in a limited and age appropriate manner. That is why it is especially important in the early years to provide children with hands on everyday experiences before gradually introducing them to digital media with parental guidance.

Thinking about media use in the family

A balanced use of media is a major challenge for both preschool children and adults and is reflected in the behavior of parents. Children learn by observing their parents, including how they handle digital media such as television, smartphones, and computers. Take a moment to think about media use in your family, because you are and always will be your child's most important role model.

A family in the living room, everyone using their phone.

Daily media habits
‍How often do you use your smartphone in front of your child just to scroll through your contacts and social media?

Digital break
Do you have moments when you intentionally put digital media aside, such as during meals or playtime with your child?

Daily media habits
‍How often do you use your smartphone in front of your child just to scroll through your contacts and social media?

The right balance
‍Ensure that your child gets enough daily physical activity and free play alongside screen time.

Clear rules
Do you have set times for media use, or are screen media accessible to your child at any time without restrictions?

Inner restlessness
‍How do you recognize when your child is spending too much time on media? Are they restless or quickly irritated?

Media as the central interest
‍How can you tell if media has become your child's main interest? Do they show little interest in other activities?

Alternatives to media
‍How do you support your child in being active during their free time without digital media? Do they have enough opportunities to play, do crafts, or spend time outdoors?

Parental media consumption

We use digital media every day to read the news, organize appointments, or watch videos and movies. But we rarely ask ourselves an important question: How do we use digital media when our children are nearby? A quick look at the playground is enough: parents stare at their smartphones, read messages, scroll through social media, or talk on the phone. Meanwhile, the child swings alone, and the opportunity for shared conversations is lost. Even while climbing, attention stays mainly on the screen instead of watching out for the child's safety. Similarly, this happens in many everyday situations. During meals, the phone sits next to the plate, and in between, adults scroll through their apps. While out for a walk, the parents are on the phone, and the child’s questions go unanswered. In the waiting room, at a café, on the bus, or on the way home from daycare, the same scene unfolds: parents are there, but not truly present. Children notice when they receive little attention: »Mom, are you even listening to me?« They realize that their questions and thoughts don’t seem important enough. Over time, they withdraw because no one is truly listening. The more digital media shape everyday life, the less time parents have to listen attentively to their child. Through eye contact, conversations, and shared activities, children develop important emotional, linguistic, and social skills. For children, conversations with their parents are a crucial part of their development, helping to satisfy their curiosity and expand their vocabulary. That’s why it is even more important for parents to set a good example when it comes to media use. Children adopt what adults demonstrate to them every day because they know no other way. They need parents who show them that doing things themselves is more valuable than passive consumption.

Family at the table, but the smartphones get all the attention.

I want to be a smartphone so that my family have more time for me.

A woman holds an hourglass with red sand against a yellow background.

More screen time, less togetherness?

A television in the children's room or a tablet in their hands cannot replace parental attention and shared time. When screens become constant companions, children miss out on valuable experiences for their linguistic, motor and social development.

A little boy sits on the bed and watches TV.

The digital babysitter

After a stressful workday, personal worries, or the many daily responsibilities, many parents have little energy left to engage with their children. In such moments, digital media may seem like a welcome break: A television in the child's room or a tablet in their hands provides some quiet. Yet what initially offers occasional relief gradually turns into a routine, replacing valuable family time. Daily screen time quickly adds up to well over an hour. Some three-year-olds start their day with a tablet or television before daycare, and in the afternoon, the screen time continues. Parents become accustomed to this routine and often fail to realize just how much time their child actually spends in front of a screen. Two hours of media consumption per day add up to 14 hours per week. Instead of playing and being active, the child sits passively in front of the screen. Experts are increasingly concerned, as more and more children struggle in school with learning to read and write, sitting still, staying focused, or expressing themselves verbally. A lack of physical activity and too little personal interaction contribute to these challenges. Especially in the early years, children develop their vocabulary through communication with adults. Physical activity also plays a crucial role in child development, helping to reduce stress and promote emotional balance. That’s why it is up to us as adults to use digital media consciously and consider the limits of children's sensory processing. Responsible media use does not start with children but with us, by setting a good example.

Little girl plays with a tablet on the bed.

Screen time for children under three

Experts recommend avoiding digital media for young children up to the age of three. For early media consumption can affect brain development as well as social, emotional, and cognitive abilities. However, international reports show that even children under the age of two spend an average of up to 90 minutes a day in front of a screen. For children between two and five years old, estimated daily screen time is over two hours. Doctors are increasingly concerned about this development. One pediatrician reports: »I see children every day who can barely sit still for five minutes in the waiting room. But instead of bringing a toy or looking at a book together, some parents immediately take out their smartphone to distract their child. This teaches even the youngest that digital devices provide meaningful activity instead of engaging in their own play. As a result, they miss out on valuable experiences in their surroundings, such as discovering new things that spark their curiosity and encourage them to ask questions. Additionally, more and more children’s language skills are not developing as expected for their age. While some children who are two years old already have an exceptionally large vocabulary, some children who are five years old still do not speak in complete sentences.« Digital devices cannot replace communication with caregivers or shared activities. In the first years of life, children learn primarily by playing, talking, and spending time with parents or siblings. It is important to understand that young children cannot occupy themselves for long periods and constantly seek closeness to their caregivers. The best way for this to succeed is in an environment with a loving bond to caregivers.

Young man in a red shirt looks thoughtful.

When screens replace speaking

Too much media consumption can impair children's development because they move too little and their concentration suffers from constant sensory overload. Language skills also often develop more slowly when conversations with caregivers are replaced by digital content.

Little girl covers her eyes with one hand and holds a smartphone.

How media consumption overloads the brain
Early childhood media consumption leads to sensory overload, impairs concentration, and reduces the ability to stay engaged in an activity for an extended period.

Digital media do not replace communication
Children do not learn language through digital media but through conversations with adults. It is crucial that adults respond to their questions and engage with them.

Lack of movement due to media consumption
Without regular physical activity, children do not develop strong muscles. This affects posture and can lead to back pain or postural deformities.

No coordination without movement
Good balance develops through regular physical activity such as running, climbing, swinging, jumping, hopping, or riding a scooter.

Connection instead of screen time
‍Children who spend a lot of time in front of a screen have fewer personal interactions. On the playground, they instead meet other children, learn to be considerate, practice patience, and improve their balance through movement.

Toddler eating in a high chair while watching a movie on a mobile phone.

Effects of media consumption

Teachers are increasingly concerned as more and more children struggle with their motor skills when starting school. When they ask the class to hop on one leg during physical education, the difference quickly becomes apparent: while some children effortlessly hop several meters, others hesitantly lift one leg, flail their arms, and struggle to maintain their balance. Unfortunately, this is no longer an isolated case. These uncertainties also occur when riding a scooter, balancing on a chalk line, or catching a ball in the air. The cause lies in everyday life where physical activity plays little role, while children instead spend a lot of time in front of screens. As media consumption increases, so does the number of overweight children. Instead of eating together with their parents, many children now eat their meals in front of the television. Quick snacks often replace a balanced meal. However, excessive media consumption affects not only body weight but also cognitive and social development. Frequent arguments with other children, lack of endurance, or sudden outbursts of anger are often signs of inner restlessness. Regular exercise counteracts this: Running, climbing, jumping, and balancing are all part of a child's natural development. Daily exercise strengthens muscles, balance, and concentration and helps relieve stress. It is our responsibility to provide children with enough opportunities for physical activity, as this is the key to healthy development.

A child playing with toys in the sandbox on a summer day.

The best screen for a child is a life full of sensory experiences at home and in nature.

Limiting screen time

Moving images and bright colors quickly captivate children. Especially at preschool age, it is important to use screen time consciously and not leave the decision to the child. Experts recommend limiting daily screen time for children between the ages of four and six to a maximum of 30 minutes. During this stage of development, the brain primarily learns through its own exploration, play, and conversations with caregivers. Playing, crafting, running around, or looking at picture books together provides stimuli that children perceive, process and understand with all their senses. When climbing in the playground, they learn to correctly assess heights and distances. When painting with finger paints, they see how new colors emerge when red and yellow mix. These experiences are important building blocks for their development: By exploring everyday life with all their senses, children improve their spatial thinking, motor skills, and creativity. These skills make learning at school easier later on. In contrast, digital content with constant visual and auditory stimuli can often cause inner restlessness. That is why it is important to choose content appropriate for the child's age and set clear screen times to keep track. Many children enjoy watching the same movies or shows repeatedly because it helps them better understand the meaning of words and the connections within the content. And when mom or dad watches their child's favorite show together with them, the child enjoys this shared time. Talking about it helps them better understand the content and expand their vocabulary. In this way, digital media remains a supplement for preschool children, while real experiences stay at the center.

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