If your young child has been having more meltdowns, their tablet might be the problem. New research suggests that excessive screen time is fueling increased anger and frustration in preschoolers, making their tantrums harder to manage.
Mobile device use among young children has surged, with screen time jumping from five minutes per day in 2020 to 55 minutes in 2022—a shift that underscores the growing role of technology in early childhood. By age 4, most children already have their own devices.
The Screen Time–Anger Connection
A new study in JAMA Pediatrics has identified a connection between tablet use and emotional outbursts in young children. The study followed 315 preschoolers over two years and found that those who spent more time on tablets at age 3 1/2 were more likely to exhibit signs of anger and frustration by age 4 1/2.
Sheramy Tsai
Author
Sheramy Tsai, BSN, RN, is a seasoned nurse with a decade-long writing career. An alum of Middlebury College and Johns Hopkins, Tsai combines her writing and nursing expertise to deliver impactful content. Living in Vermont, she balances her professional life with sustainable living and raising three children.
