Caregivers' perceptions of digital screen use by children from different strata of social vulnerability.
Anniely Rodrigues Soares, Iolanda Carlli da Silva Bezerra, Valquíria Francisca de Moura and 3 others
PMID 42659487WHAT IT FOUND
Caregivers of preschoolers reported their children used screens two to three hours daily, often to keep them quiet, with passive use and limited content monitoring.
Many felt guilty and wanted change, but screen habits were common across families.
Key findings
01All caregivers reported children used screens for around two to three hours a day, which the study considered excessive for ages 2 to 5.
02Screens were used in many settings, including home, commuting, and public places, often so caregivers could complete tasks.
03Children's screen use was mostly passive, and caregivers did not systematically monitor whether content was age-appropriate.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The findings come from 30 caregivers in daycare centers in one Brazilian municipality, so they may not apply to families elsewhere or to children not in daycare. Caregivers were asked after an educational intervention on screen use, so their answers may reflect what they had just been taught. The study did not measure children's development, language, behavior, sleep, or health outcomes, so it cannot show harm from screen time. Screen time and content were self-reported, and transcripts were not validated by participants. Vulnerability was classified by the daycare center's neighborhood, not by each family's own situation, and stratum V centers were not included. Preschool teachers were not included, and one focus group was remote.
Declared interests
Funded by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel in Brazil, funding code 001. The paper reports no other conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that screen time causes language delay, behavior problems, or developmental harm. It only describes caregivers' reported screen habits. Also, because the caregivers had already received an educational intervention, their accounts may reflect that teaching rather than usual behavior.