Association Between Exposure to Smartphones and Tablets and Motor Development in Early Childhood: A Systematic Review.
Rinelly Pazinato Dutra, Yasmin Marques Castro, Veridiana Moran and 4 others
PMID 41239815WHAT IT FOUND
Evidence linking smartphone and tablet use to motor development in young children is mixed and inconclusive.
Four studies found negative associations, while three found positive ones. Most results were weak or non-significant, and the cross-sectional design prevents causal conclusions.
Key findings
01Four of the seven included studies identified a negative association between device use and motor development, while three identified positive associations.
02Most associations were of small to moderate magnitude, and a substantial portion of analyses failed to show statistically significant findings across certain motor domains.
03All included studies were cross-sectional, meaning they measured exposure and outcomes at a single point in time, which precludes causal inference.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
All included studies were cross-sectional, so they cannot determine if device use causes motor differences or if children with certain motor profiles are more likely to use devices. Sample sizes in the included studies were small, ranging from 25 to 715 participants, which limits the reliability of the findings. Device exposure was measured solely by parental report, which is subject to recall bias and social desirability. Most studies did not adjust for key confounders such as socioeconomic status, parental education, or overall physical activity levels. Methodological heterogeneity prevented a meta-analysis, meaning the results could not be pooled into a single effect estimate.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The review was funded by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior–Brazil.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that smartphone use harms or helps motor development. The evidence is mixed, weak, and cross-sectional, meaning it cannot prove that screen time causes any change in motor skills.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →