Exposição a telas e o desenvolvimento infantil: uma revisão de literatura

Exposure to screen and child development: a literature review

Abstract

The early and prolonged exposure of children to electronic devices, such as tablets, smartphones and televisions, has

increasingly aroused the interest and concern of researchers and health professionals. Several studies analyze the connection between screen time and child development, indicating that, although screens can provide educational and recreational benefits, excessive or inappropriate use can harm children's development. This article is an integrative literature review and its objective is to establish whether there is a consensus in the literature on the effects of screen exposure on child development. The methodology involved the use of the PubMed and SciELO databases, considering articles published between 2014 and 2024. The descriptors used were “screen”; “television”; “child development”; “childhood” which were combined by the Boolean operator “AND”. A total of 2,268 articles were selected and, after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 8 articles were selected. The results revealed

that increased screen time was significantly associated with poorer language skills, sedentary behaviors, sleep disturbances, and emotional and cognitive problems. Furthermore, the research highlighted that quality content and co-viewing with caregivers may mitigate some of the adverse effects. Thus, while technology can offer educational benefits, it is essential that parents and educators promote a balance between technology use and developmental activities. Future interventions should focus on both children and parents to establish healthy screen time limits.