“A Descriptive Survey to Assess the Effects of Using Mobile on Growth and Development of Preschool Children in Selected Area of Metropolitan City.”

Abstract

Background: The rapid integration of mobile technology into daily life has not spared children. From educational games to YouTube videos, screens have become a substitute for toys, books, and even parental engagement. According to recent surveys, toddlers as young as two years old regularly use mobile phones for several hours daily. This practice is often normalized under the assumption that early exposure will foster digital literacy.

However, research increasingly shows that unsupervised screen time during critical developmental windows can be detrimental. Studies have linked excessive screen exposure to attention deficit disorders, poor motor skills, emotional dysregulation, speech delays, and behavioral issues like aggression and irritability.

A systematic review of literature underscores how prolonged screen time is associated with adverse physical outcomes (e.g., obesity, poor sleep hygiene), psychosocial problems (e.g., social withdrawal, poor peer interactions), and academic impairments (e.g., lack of focus, poor performance). Mobile use during meals and bedtime has particularly been associated with disrupted eating patterns, emotional dependency, and poor sleep quality.

Given the urban lifestyle trends, working parents often resort to mobile devices to entertain or pacify their children. This study’s findings emphasize the pressing need to understand how early mobile use is shaping child development in Indian urban settings, especially within nuclear families where digital devices often play a central role in daily routines.