Children Given Digital Devices to Stop Tantrums Won’t Learn to Regulate Emotions, Study Shows

Parents are advised to guide their children on how to cope with their negative emotions rather than relying on digital devices.

A baby plays with a mobile phone while his twin brother drinks juice in Kiev on Aug. 11, 2018. Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images

A recent study has found that frequent use of digital devices to calm children during tantrums could hinder the development of self-regulatory skills.

The research, published in Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry on June 28, emphasized that early childhood is a critical time for learning self-regulation skills—affective, mental, and behavioral responses.