IMPACT OF SCREEN TIME ON CHILD NEURODEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Child neurodevelopment is a dynamic and continuous process, particularly sensitive to environmental stimuli during the first years of life. In this context, the increasing use of digital technologies by young children has raised concerns about their potential impacts on cognitive, linguistic, behavioral, and socioemotional development. Therefore, this study aimed to review and synthesize the scientific evidence on the impacts of screen exposure on child neurodevelopment. This is an integrative literature review conducted in the PubMed, BVS, LILACS, and SciELO databases, using the PICO strategy to formulate the guiding research question and structure the search. Original studies published between 2020 and 2024, in Portuguese, English, or Spanish, with full-text availability, were included. After applying the eligibility criteria and following the PRISMA recommendations, 13 studies were included in the final sample. The results demonstrated a consistent association between greater screen exposure, especially when early and prolonged, and impairments across multiple domains of child development. Negative impacts were mainly observed in language, cognition, communication, sleep, behavior, and emotional regulation. Longitudinal and cohort studies indicated that early exposure may predict persistent developmental delays, while cross-sectional studies reinforced overall developmental vulnerability. Although some findings suggested mitigating effects related to parental mediation and the use of educational content, direct human interaction remained the central factor for healthy development. It is concluded that excessive and inadequately mediated screen use tends to replace experiences essential for child neurodevelopment. These findings highlight the need for family guidance, multiprofessional involvement, and public policies that promote conscious use of digital technologies, especially in early childhood, as well as encouraging future research with more robust designs and greater control of variables.