"They can use cell phones, but they can't eat with cutlery": Excessive media consumption by toddlers

"They can use cell phones, but they can't eat with cutlery"

Pediatrician Arnika Thiede at the Brothers of Mercy in Linz deals with behaviorally disturbed toddlers almost daily. The reason: excessive media consumption

https://www.diagnose-funk.org/

"They can use cell phones, but they can't eat with cutlery"
Image: colorbox, Barmherzige Brüder Linz,
Öberösterreichische Nachricht

LINZ, January 11, 2025. Sleep disorders, obesity, behavioral disorders, and language deficits: Too much media time has serious consequences, even for young children. Pediatrician Arnika Thiede* speaks in an OÖN interview with editor Daniel Gruber about this dramatic development and attempts to counteract it.

Many one to two-year-olds already spend up to two hours a day in front of their cell phone, tablet or TV

OÖNachrichten: Experts warn of the consequences of excessive media use among children. School social worker Christian Hofer recently said in an OÖN interview that cases of media addiction are going through the roof. Do you share this view?

Arnika Thiede: High media consumption doesn't just cause problems for schoolchildren. In our developmental medicine outpatient clinic, we see children under the age of four with speech development and behavioral disorders almost every day. Some of the toddlers live in their own world. They have never learned how to play with other children. They don't even know how to play themselves. They manipulate their parents by not responding when spoken to and by shouting. The parents don't know what to do and put the children in front of the TV, tablet or cell phone. Then there is peace and quiet.

OÖNachrichten: What consequences does this have for children?

Arnika Thiede: Excessive digital media consumption can lead to obesity and sleep disorders, among other things. The brain also changes structurally and functionally. The earlier and longer digital media is consumed, the more pronounced the changes are, which can continue into adulthood despite a reduction in screen time.

OÖNachrichten: What speech disorders occur in small children?

Arnika Thiede: They speak very little or not at all. However, we have noticed for years that they are increasingly using English phrases, even if their parents don't speak a word of English. They get this from YouTube, for example. The children repeat these phrases, but of course they don't understand the meaning.

OÖNachrichten: That's why you created a prevention program. How did this come about?

Arnika Thiede: With the “Smart( without) phone” workshop, my colleague Christoph Rosenthaler and I want to address parents-to-be and those of small children. There are already good programs in Upper Austria, but mainly for schoolchildren. There is nothing for young families with small children. A year and a half ago, I once spent a week with only children with maximum media consumption - so-called media autists - in the outpatient clinic. They didn't speak, showed little social interaction and seemed to live in their own world, similar to children on the autistic spectrum. I was so annoyed that this was not recorded anywhere. I contacted the President of the Society for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and we wrote an open letter to the Federal Chancellor and several ministries.

OÖNachrichten: What was the response like?

Arnika Thiede: Basically, there was a lot of interest. We were invited to the Federal Chancellery and had talks with the Ministry of Health, but unfortunately there was no financial support.

OÖNachrichten: The hospital has stepped in and the workshop will be held at the in-house parents' academy. How does it work?

Arnika Thiede: The interactive, free workshop at the Institute for Sensory and Speech Neurology lasts one hour and takes place on two evenings per semester. In addition to a keynote speech on the dangers of early digital media consumption, we also give parents tips on age-appropriate gaming without putting their children in front of a screen. We also explain to them that it is okay to video call grandma or take a quick look at vacation pictures on their cell phone. It is important not to let the children sit in front of their cell phones alone.

OÖNachrichten: Are you reaching the desired target group?

Arnika Thiede: The workshop is voluntary. This means we only reach parents who are already concerned. We would like to reach more people, but we would need support to do so. For example, with advertising banners or contributions on public video screens to educate parents and children.

OÖNachrichten: What are the reactions of the participating parents?

Arnika Thiede: It's amazing to see the insecurities associated with children's media consumption and how much the associated potential for conflict puts a strain on families. Parents want the best for their child and often think that a quiet child is automatically a happy one. They quickly fall into the media trap: they use the cell phone as a reward, bridge waiting times or keep the child quiet.

OÖNachrichten: Why is the cell phone so interesting even for small children?

Arnika Thiede: It activates the reward system, dopamine is released when it is used. In addition, children imitate everything. They see that their parents are constantly on their cell phones, which makes it very attractive

OÖNachrichten: Getting your first cell phone is an emotional topic. At what age would you recommend it?

Arnika Thiede: The first cell phone should be delayed as long as possible. In our experience, a primary school child does not need their own cell phone. If they have to travel further to school on their own in middle school or high school, it makes sense.

OÖNachrichten: You have been working in Linz for almost 18 years. When did the number of cases start to rise sharply?

Arnika Thiede: We noticed a massive increase as early as 2017 and even more so during the coronavirus pandemic. Corona hasn't been good for families because households have been further medialized, and what do I do with the children when the playground is closed?

OÖNachrichten: Hours in front of the screen were the result. Do you have any concrete figures on this?

Arnika Thiede: Studies from the past ten years show that 60 percent of one to two-year-olds spend up to two hours a day in front of screens, according to their parents. 40 percent of two to three-year-olds can operate a mobile game independently, 50 percent can find their way to YouTube on their own and 44 percent of five to six-year-olds can operate a touchscreen perfectly, but cannot eat with cutlery, tie their shoes or get dressed and undressed on their own. That's quite something.

OÖNachrichten: And what are the official recommendations?

Arnika Thiede: The World Health Organization recommends no media consumption at all under the age of three. However, this is very difficult to achieve in reality. From the age of three, 30 minutes a day with a parent is recommended and from the age of six, one hour a day is recommended.

The questions were asked by OÖN editor Daniel Gruber. Interview reprinted with the kind permission of Oberösterreichische Nachrichten. Source:https://www.nachrichten.at/oberoesterreich/kinderaerztin-sie-koennen-handys-bedienen-aber-nicht-mit-besteck-essen;art4,4015138

* Dr. Arnika Thiede is a specialist in paediatrics and adolescent medicine with a focus on neuro- and social paediatrics. She works at the Ordensklinikum Barmherzige Brüdern in Linz, in particular at the Institute for Sensory and Speech Neurology. She is also head of the institute's neurological-linguistic outpatient clinic. Dr. Thiede is also involved in the Neuropaediatrics Working Group of the Austrian Society for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. In addition, she is active in the Parents' Academy of the Brothers of Mercy Linz, where she informs and supports parents in various areas of child development.

Original article in German:

https://www.diagnose-funk.org/aktuelles/artikel-archiv/detail&newsid=2166

Image: colorbox, Barmherzige Brüder Linz, Öberösterreichische Nachricht