DHAKA —
While screens may offer a quick solution, excessive and unregulated use can reduce the time children spend engaging in the real-world interactions that are important for language, social and overall development.
Experts emphasize that the early years of childhood are particularly important for brain development. Talking with parents, listening to stories, playing, maintaining eye contact, observing facial expressions and exploring the surrounding environment all provide valuable opportunities for children to develop communication and social skills.
Unlike these experiences, most screen-based activities provide limited two-way interaction and cannot fully replace real conversations or interactive play.
When Should Parents Be Concerned?
Parents should pay close attention to their child's developmental progress. Certain signs may warrant professional evaluation, including:
1. Delayed speech
The child does not develop age-appropriate sounds, words or sentences.
2. Limited eye contact
The child rarely looks at people during conversations or social interactions.
3. Limited response to their name
The child repeatedly fails to respond when called, particularly when engaged in other activities.
4. Difficulty with social interaction
The child shows little interest in interacting or playing with family members or other children.
5. Limited joint attention
The child has difficulty following another person's gaze or pointing toward an object and sharing attention about it.
6. Limited play skills
The child shows little interest in imaginative or interactive play and instead repeatedly engages in solitary or repetitive activities.
7. Strong reactions when screens are removed
The child frequently becomes extremely upset, cries, screams or throws objects when a smartphone, tablet or television is turned off.
8. Difficulty understanding or expressing language
The child struggles to understand simple instructions or relies heavily on gestures rather than words to communicate needs.
However, these signs do not automatically mean that excessive screen use is responsible or that a child has autism.
Is Screen Time the Same as Autism?
The term “virtual autism” is sometimes used to describe developmental difficulties associated with prolonged screen exposure. However, it is not a recognized independent medical diagnosis.
There is no established evidence that screen exposure directly causes autism. Difficulties with speech, social communication, eye contact or responsiveness can have many possible causes, including hearing problems, language delays and other developmental conditions.
For that reason, parents should avoid attempting to diagnose a child based solely on screen use or a few behavioral signs.
A proper assessment by a pediatrician, developmental specialist or qualified speech and language therapist can help determine what may be contributing to the child's difficulties.
Why Human Interaction Matters
Children learn language most effectively through meaningful interaction with other people.
Simple activities such as talking with parents, reading books together, singing songs, telling stories, asking questions, playing with toys and responding to a child's attempts to communicate provide continuous opportunities for learning.
These interactions help children understand not only words but also facial expressions, emotions, gestures, turn-taking and other important elements of social communication.
A screen can present sounds, images and information, but it generally cannot provide the same level of responsive, two-way interaction as a real person.
The Role of Speech and Language Therapy
Speech and language therapists can play an important role when a child experiences difficulties with communication or language development.
A therapist may assess the child's ability to understand and use language, attention, play skills and willingness to communicate before developing an individualized intervention plan.
Parent coaching can also be an important part of the process. Parents can learn practical ways to encourage communication during everyday activities, including play, meals, reading and household routines.
Early identification and appropriate intervention can help children receive the support they need as soon as possible.
What Can Parents Do?
The World Health Organization recommends avoiding sedentary screen time for children under two and limiting sedentary screen time to no more than one hour a day for children aged two to five, with less being preferable.
Parents can also take several practical steps:
Reduce Screen Dependence
For young children, reducing screen exposure should be accompanied by meaningful alternatives such as outdoor play, books, drawing, music, storytelling and age-appropriate activities.
Increase Two-Way Communication
Talk directly with children, ask questions, listen to their responses, sing songs, tell stories and play together. Everyday conversations can create valuable opportunities for language development.
Involve Children in Daily Activities
Where appropriate and safe, children can participate in simple household activities. Naming objects, giving simple instructions and talking about what they are doing can turn ordinary routines into learning opportunities.
Avoid Screens During Meals
Parents can gradually replace screen-based feeding routines with conversations and interaction during mealtimes, helping children become more engaged with both the food and the people around them.
Give Children Quality Time
Simply taking away a smartphone is not enough. Children need attention, affection and meaningful interaction. Setting aside regular time for talking, playing and reading together can make the transition away from excessive screen use easier.
Awareness Is Key
The issue is not necessarily technology itself, but excessive and uncontrolled dependence on screens.
Parents should establish age-appropriate limits while ensuring that children have plenty of opportunities for physical activity, play, communication and interaction with other people.
If a child shows persistent difficulties with speech, communication, social interaction or development, parents should not simply assume that the problem is caused by smartphones or tablets. Professional assessment is important to identify the underlying cause and determine whether additional support is needed.
A smartphone may calm a child for a few minutes, but healthy childhood development requires far more than digital entertainment.
Real conversations, play, affection, attention and hands-on experiences remain at the heart of a child's development. The challenge for parents is to ensure that technology supports family life rather than replacing the human interaction children need most.
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