Children's Fine Motor Skills Decline Amid Rising Screen Time
Date
1/30/2025 6:57:34 AM
(MENAFN- The Arabian Post)
A growing body of evidence indicates that increased screen time among children is contributing to a decline in fine motor skills, essential for tasks such as zipping coats and turning book pages. Educators and health professionals are expressing concern over this trend, which has significant implications for child development.
A survey conducted by Savanta for the early years charity Kindred2 revealed that some children in England and Wales are starting school with underdeveloped motor skills. Teachers reported instances where children struggled to climb stairs, exhibited clumsy movements, and even attempted to 'swipe' physical books as if they were tablets. These behaviors are attributed to excessive screen time, which limits opportunities for physical play and hands-on activities crucial for developing fine motor skills.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this issue, as lockdowns and social distancing measures led to increased reliance on digital devices for both education and entertainment. Consequently, children spent more time engaging with screens and less time participating in physical activities that promote motor development. A study highlighted by National Geographic found that prolonged screen exposure is linked to delays in fine motor skills among young children.
Research from the University of Connecticut supports these findings, indicating that higher usage of screen media, such as televisions and smartphones, negatively impacts fine motor skill development in preschool children. Specifically, children demonstrated difficulty in tasks like drawing figures, a skill indicative of fine motor proficiency. The repetitive motions associated with screen use, such as swiping and tapping, do not engage the diverse range of movements needed to develop these skills.
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The World Health Organization has issued guidelines to address this concern, recommending that children aged two to four years should have no more than one hour of sedentary screen time per day, emphasizing that less is better. For children under one year, the WHO advises against any screen exposure. These recommendations aim to encourage more active playtime, which is vital for the development of motor skills.
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