Excessive screen use among children is no longer an urban problem; it has now become common in villages too—with possible harm to children’s growth, behaviour, and learning.
A new community study from rural Haryana, by investigators from AIIMS Delhi, found that, alarmingly, nearly half of children aged two to four are spending more time in front of screens than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends.
The investigators from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) had surveyed 282 children in four villages covered by the Ballabgarh Health and Demographic Surveillance System. Parents answered a pre-tested questionnaire about what devices their children used, how long and when they used them, what they watched, and how parents tried to control viewing. The survey was shocking. While 50.5% of children aged 24–59 months had daily screen time above 60 minutes—the WHO limit for this age—smartphones showed cartoons, educational clips, and a large share of “universal” short videos: music clips, serials, DIY, and short-form social videos that are not made especially for toddlers.
The study, "Prevalence, patterns and parental perceptions of excessive screen time among children aged 2-4 years: A cross-sectional study from a rural setting of Haryana, India," also showed that one in four children began seeing screens before they turned two. “Half the children were exposed to ‘background’ screen time—being in a room with a switched-on device even if they were not actively watching,” said the study. What was more worrying was that many parents used screens to calm children (46%), keep them occupied (28%), or to feed them (10%). While parents said they watched over what children saw, children themselves chose the content in 86% of cases. Two strong factors associated with excessive screen time were starting screens before 24 months and allowing devices during meals, warned the study.
Experts say early and prolonged screen use can affect sleep, eating habits, and attention, and may raise the risk of childhood overweight and delays in learning. Short, fast-moving videos on phones encourage rapid attention shifts and reduce chances for parent–child talk—the very interactions that help language and social skills develop.
“Screen devices are everywhere now. If toddlers spend long hours watching screens—especially during meals or before bed—we risk harming their sleep, diet, and attention. Parents must act early,” said Dr. Mohan Bairwa from the Centre of Community Medicine of AIIMS Delhi, one of the study authors. “Delay giving screens to children under two, avoid phones or TV during meals and before sleep, and choose good, age-appropriate content when screens are used.”
The study found that most parents (92%) believe screens can harm children. “Nearly 90% said they had tried to limit viewing. Yet many still depend on screens because of daily pressures: chores, work, or simply to keep a child quiet. Grandparents and relatives sometimes encourage screen use. Only a few parents reported trying to reduce their own screen use as an example,” as per the study.
Dr. Bairwa said, “Parents are aware that screens can harm, but they are short on ways to act. Small changes—delaying screen introduction, not using devices at mealtimes, choosing suitable content, and spending a little more time in play and talk—can make a big difference to a child’s future.”
If families, health workers, and communities take these simple steps now, many children can be spared the avoidable risks linked to excessive screen use. "The time to act is early—before playtime becomes screen time," said the co-authors Dr. Shahana Singh, Dr. Partha Haldar, and Dr. Baridalyne Nongkynrih.
Terming the study observations as an eye-opener, Sonali Khan, Managing Trustee of Sesame Workshop India Trust, said it's high time we wake up to the menace and work to inculcate good habits among these impressionable minds.
She shared that, keeping these concerns in mind, Sesame Workshop India, in partnership with global healthcare major Abbott, has launched Sehatmand Aadatein on its Chalo! Sesame Street app, bringing play-based nutrition education to children’s fingertips.
Developed under the Healthy Habits programme, the digital module targets children aged 4–7, helping families instill routines around balanced diets, physical activity, and sleep through interactive storytelling, music, and familiar Sesame Street characters.
“Today, many children are eating more packaged and sugary foods and spending more time in front of the screen,” Khan said, adding that the app bridges mass media reach with measurable outcomes, supporting holistic growth.
Vivek Yadav, Principal of PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya, Andrews Ganj, Delhi, also raised serious concerns over the study’s findings, warning that excessive screen exposure is beginning to take a toll on children’s cognitive growth.
He observed that while digital devices are becoming increasingly common in children’s lives, their unchecked use may be doing more harm than good. “We are giving children screens and taking away their brains,” he said, underlining the unintended consequences of overdependence on digital technology at a young age.
Yadav stressed that prolonged screen time can interfere with attention span, memory, and the ability to process information effectively—skills that are critical for learning and overall development. “All of these things are going to hurt learning, which in turn is going to hurt our kids' cognitive development,” he added.
With reduced outdoor play, limited face-to-face interaction, and growing academic pressures, children are increasingly confined to screens for both study and leisure.
Calling for greater awareness among parents and educators, Yadav emphasised the need to regulate screen use and encourage healthier habits that support holistic development.
