Research from the University of Wollongong reveals that parents’ device use around young children can subtly impact their attention, behaviour, and social growth, emphasising the importance of mindful device-free moments.
A child’s development may be shaped not only by the time they spend on a screen, but also by how often a parent is glued to one. Researchers from the University of Wollongong in Australia have looked at what happens when adults use phones or other devices in front of very young children, and their findings suggest that parental technology habits may matter more than many families realise.
The review, published in JAMA Pediatrics in May 2025, pooled 21 studies involving 14,900 children in 10 countries. It examined device use by parents and caregivers around children from birth to age five, focusing on cognition, behaviour, social development, attachment and the children’s own screen habits. Across the studies, higher parental device use was linked with slightly lower scores in attention and problem-solving, as well as small increases in anxiety-like and other behavioural difficulties.
The associations were modest, and the research does not show that checking a phone causes developmental problems. But it does fit with a broader body of evidence suggesting that children often mirror the media habits they see at home. A separate review in the journal Children noted that heavy screen exposure can affect attention, memory, motor development and social-emotional growth, while earlier research in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics found that parental screen time is one of the strongest predictors of a child’s own screen time.
For parents and caregivers, the practical message is less about perfection than presence. The evidence does not call for panic or guilt, but it does suggest that device-free moments during meals, play and conversation may help young children get more of the attention and interaction that support healthy development.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
