A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics is raising concern for parents navigating screen time in early childhood. The research suggests that higher levels of tablet use in toddlers and preschoolers are associated with more frequent and intense expressions of anger as they grow older.

What the Study Looked At

Researchers followed 422 children from ages 3.5 to 5.5, tracking both their daily tablet use and emotional development. They used a technique called cross-lagged path modeling to identify directional relationships over time - not just correlations. In simpler terms: they looked at whether tablet use predicted changes in anger, or vice versa.

The findings were striking: A one standard deviation increase in tablet use at age 3.5 was associated with a 22% increase in outward expressions of anger at age 5.5. The association remained significant even after adjusting for parenting practices, socioeconomic status, and baseline temperament.

Why It Matters for Moms‍

Many parents turn to tablets for entertainment, education, or a moment of peace - especially with young children. But this study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that screen time, particularly with tablets that offer highly stimulating and fast-paced content, may affect emotional regulation.

Lead author Dr. Jane Tavendale explained, "These devices are designed to hold attention and provide instant feedback. That might be rewarding in the short term, but over time, it could disrupt children’s ability to manage frustration or delay gratification."

Understanding the Mechanism

One hypothesis is that rapid-fire screen content can impair the development of self-soothing and problem-solving strategies. When children spend more time being passively entertained, they may get fewer opportunities to practice patience, experience boredom, or work through conflict with others- key building blocks of emotional maturity.

What Moms Can Do

This study doesn’t say all tablet use is harmful - but it highlights how heavy, unsupervised use during the toddler years may affect emotional development. For moms, it’s a reminder that what looks like harmless entertainment can shape how children experience and express their feelings.

• Delay solo tablet use until at least age 4, unless supervised and limited.
• Prioritize co-viewing and screen sharing when possible, so you can talk through content together.
• Encourage frustration tolerance in daily life by allowing your child to struggle with simple tasks (like puzzles) before jumping in to help.
• Balance screen time with unstructured, real-world play that builds creativity, cooperation, and emotional flexibility.

Read the Research: Fitzpatrick C, Pan PM, Lemieux A, Harvey E, Rocha FA, Garon-Carrier G. Early-Childhood Tablet Use and Outbursts of Anger. JAMA Pediatr. 2024 Oct 1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39133514/

‍